Well, this is unexpected.
Recent research shows a compound in okra
“promotes selective antitumor effects in human breast cancer cells and may represent a potential therapeutic to combat human breast cancer.”
Here’s the abstract,
Biotechnol Lett. 2014 Mar;36(3):461-9. doi: 10.1007/s10529-013-1382-4. Epub 2013 Oct 16.
Lectin of Abelmoschus esculentus (okra) promotes selective antitumor effects in human breast cancer cells.
The anti-tumor effects of a newly-discovered lectin, isolated from
okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (AEL), were investigated in human
breast cancer (MCF7) and skin fibroblast (CCD-1059 sk) cells. AEL
induced significant cell growth inhibition (63 %) in MCF7 cells. The
expression of pro-apoptotic caspase-3, caspase-9, and p21 genes was
increased in MCF7 cells treated with AEL, compared to those treated
with controls. In addition, AEL treatment increased the Bax/Bcl-2
ratio in MCF7 cells. Flow cytometry also indicated that cell death
(72 %) predominantly occurred through apoptosis. Thus, AEL in its
native form promotes selective antitumor effects in human breast
cancer cells and may represent a potential therapeutic to combat
human breast cancer.
Don’t get your hopes up about that 72% figure: that seems to be
that when cancer cell death occurred, 72% of it was related,
not that 72% of cancer cells were killed.
The 63% cancer cell growth inhibition does seem promising, though.
There are even hints in another paper that okra may be related to lower rates of prostate cancer: Continue reading →
Here’s
a video about Elsie,
A Crusader for Conservation,
19 September 2014,
by Tennessee’s Wild Side, “The Emmy Award winning show produced through the generosity of the Jackson
Foundation, Tennessee State Parks, and the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.”
Lots of good pictures, some video snippets of Elsie, and some narration by her nephew Patrick and by Biologist Tom Hemmerly, who reminds us of Elsie’s work at Radner Lake, in addition to her cedar glades work.
Ranger Buddy Ingram explains her biggest contribution may have been
in getting numerous different segments of society to cooperate
in saving whole ecologies.
Botanist Kim Sadler and others explain how inspiring all that is to generations
of students.
The general public needs to know what’s around them. They need to be learning that there’s a world that is not paved. There are lots of things that have life and function in the whole scheme, people as well as plants and animals. Not just dogs you’ve got on a leash, but animals that live out there, are part of the whole ecosystem.
