Zyflamend inhibits 78 percent of prostate cancer cells

An article published in the October issue of the journal Nutrition and Cancer says that Zyflamend, an herbal extract from olive oil could end the search for a drug to beat prostate cancer.

It was found that this element caused the prostate cancer cells to commit "suicide." The researchers report that the drug had the ability to inhibit 78 percent of the cancer cell growth plus it also caused "apoptosis". This is the natural process by which a cell dies. Cell death in this way is a physiological process and Zyflamend's ability to trigger this action bodes well for the future, according to the lead researcher in the study, Dr. Debra L. Bemis of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. "Together, these results suggest that Zyflamend might have some chemopreventive utility against prostate cancer in men," she said.

It was also found that Zyflamend had both COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory effects on the cancer cells and was shown to decrease the activity of both these enzymes in a dramatic manner in the laboratory setting. "We are currently conducting a Phase I clinical trial for men with a pre-cancerous lesion of the prostate -- prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia -- to gain some information as to Zyflamend's potential to prevent or slow... progression to prostate cancer," Dr. Bemis concluded.

The COX inhibitors are known to have some effect on prostate cancer cells, but are contraindicated in heart disease since they have adverse impact on the heart. Zyflamend was seen to have the similar chemical structure as that of Aspirin.