Can Grape Seed Extract Kill Cancer Cells?

It sounds strange but the short answer is yes. Researchers from the University of Kentucky found that applying extract from grape seeds to laboratory leukemia cells forced them to commit suicide. In a 24 hour period, 76% of all lab cancer cells had died after being exposed to the grape seed extract.



How does this work? The researchers believe that the extract activates the protein JNK which regulates apoptosis, or cell death. An important fact is to note is that the extract did not affect normal cells. They do not know why this occurred.



This extract has been shown to have an activity in cancer cell lines such as skin cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer. Yet this is the first time this has been shown for Hematological cancers which include leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.



Even though the work here is preliminary, the importance lies in the fact that natural occurring agents can be used in the treatment/prevention of cancers.