NIGERIAN researchers have identified more Nigerian foodstuffs with prostate cancer chemo-preventive substances- native pear, cloves, horseradish/Moringa oleifera, bush candle tree, tomatoes, wild cabbage, soursop, soya beans, chilli pepper, and green tea. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.PROSTATE cancer is on the rise in Nigeria! Early symptoms of prostate cancer include frequent urination, nocturia (increased urination at night), difficulty starting and maintaining a steady stream of urine, hematuria (blood in the urine) and dysuria (painful urination).According to recent estimates by the World Health Organisation (WHO), prostate cancer constitutes 24 per cent of annual cancer incidence in sub- Saharan Africa, and is the fifth most common of all cancers. It is the cancer with the highest incidence, and consequently, responsible for the highest mortality rate of all cancers among black males in sub-Saharan Africa.But Nigerian researchers have found that although prostate cancer is historically more prevalent in males of African extraction, the incidence can be dramatically reduced, and the age of onset drastically increased, if the population at risk consumes the right kinds of foods in the right proportion, beginning early in life, especially as prostate cancer has a gestation period of about 50 years.A review of laboratory data and available literature on prostate cancer chemopreventive substances in Nigerian foodstuffs found that native pear fruit (Dacryodes edulis), Moringa oleifera and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) contained prostate active polyphenols like ellagic acid, gallate, methylgallate, catechol, kaempferol quercetin and their derivatives.Dietary polyphenols are antioxidants that can scavenge biological free radicals, and chemo-prevent diseases with biological oxidation as their main etiological factor.The study was published as part of Infectious Agents and Cancer Volume 6 Supplement 2, 2011. It was also published in Proceedings of the First Biennial Conference on the Science of Global Prostate Cancer Disparities in Black Men.Also bush candle tree (Canarium schweinfurthii) Engl oil contained ten phenolic compounds and lignans, namely, catechol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, tyrosol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, dihydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, phloretic acid, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol.In addition, tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) which contains the powerful antioxidant and anti-prostate cancer agent, lycopene, cabbage (Brassica oleracea) containing indole-3-carbinol, citrus fruits containing pectin, Soursop (Annona muricata) containing annonaceous acetogenins, soya beans (Glycine max) containing isoflavones, chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) containing capsaicin, and green tea (Camellia sinensis) containing (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-) epicatechin, (-) epicatechin-3-gallate and (-) epigallocatechin -3-gallate which are widely reported to posses prostate cancer chemopreventive compounds are also grown in Nigeria and other African countries.The study entitled: 'Nigerian foodstuffs with prostate cancer chemopreventive polyphenols,' was conducted by Sunday Eneojo Atawodi of the Biochemistry Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.Earlier studies have shown that prostate cancer is an ideal candidate disease for chemoprevention because it is typically diagnosed in men ages greater than 50 years and has a high latency period, and hence, even a slight delay in the progression of this disease by chemo-preventive intervention could result in a substantial reduction in the incidence of the disease and, more importantly, improve the quality of life of the patients.Epidemiological and laboratory evidence also indicate that the differences in incidence of cancers, in general, and prostate cancer in particular, may be associated with the presence of certain polyphenols, especially flavonoids in the diets of these populations.Commonly called cloves, Syzygium aromaticum belongs to the plant family Myrtaceae. The locals, especially in Lagos call it conophor.Commonly called African pear, native pear or bush butter, Dacryodes edulis belongs to the plant family Burseraceae. It called safoutier in French. In Nigeria, it is ibe in Kalabari; boshu in Bokyi; orunmwun in Edo (indicating something edible); ube in Ibo; orumu in Urhobo; and elemi in Yoruba.Commonly known in the English language as the ben oil tree, the horseradish tree, or the drumstick tree, Moringa oleifera belongs to the plant family Moringaceae. Moringa oleifera is a local plant found almost in every region of the country has been shown to be useful purifying water, treating malnutrition, boosting immunity, fighting microbes, and cancers.In Nigeria, it is called Ewe ile, Ewe igbale, or Idagbo monoye (the tree which grows crazily) in Yoruba; Gawara, Habiwal hausa, Konamarade, or Rini maka in Fulani; Bagaruwar maka, Bagaruwar masar, Barambo, Koraukin zaila, Shipka hali, Shuka halinka, Rimin nacara, Rimin turawa, Zogall, or Zogalla-gandi in Hausa; and Odudu oyibo, Okochi egbu, Okwe olu, Okwe oyibo, Okughara ite, Uhe, Ikwe beke in Ibo.Until now, various laboratory researches have confirmed that Moringa is a natural energy booster, strengthens the immune system, has antibiotic properties, cures headaches, migraines, asthma, and ulcers, reduces arthritic pains and inflammations, and restricted tumour growths.Canarium schweinfurthii belongs to the plant family Burseraceae, commonly called African elemi, incense tree or bush candle tree. To the French it is elemier d'Afrique, ekpakpogho in Edo, eben etiridon in Efik, etile in Hausa, oda in Igala, ube-osa in Igbo, and ako in Yoruba. The resin is generally held to have action on skin-affections. It is used for eczema, the inner bark is rub on the skin for leprosy, and on to ulcers.Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is of the Solanaceae family. It is called ekhue in Edo. Leaves are used to treat eyes with bloodstain. Young fresh leaves are squeezed and the juice is dropped into the eyes, one drop, twice daily.Kale is a green leafy vegetable that belongs to the brassica family, a group of vegetables including cabbage, collards and brussels sprouts that have recent widespread attention due to their health promoting, sulphur-containing phytonutrients. Its Latin name is Brassica oleracea.The common name(s) is, Kale, Borecole. In Asaba, Delta State of Nigeria, kale is nick-named 'hospital too far.' This is because of the health benefits of kale.
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