DISCOVERED: PALM OIL KILLS BREAST CANCER CELLS

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- Scientists in Singapore have discovered a
natural compound in palm oil that can kill breast cancer cells.

The compound, called 'gamma-tocotrienol', which was extracted in its natural
form from palm oil, demonstrated powerful cancer-killing properties, according
to findings by Davos Life Science Singapore, a research and development centre.

In a statement Tuesday, the centre said the compound could be found at
low-levels in food sources such as palm oil, barley and rice bran.

The centre said its scientists partnered with the Li Ka Shing Faculty of
Medicine at the University of Hong Kong and the Australian Prostate Cancer
Research Centre in conducting the cancer study.

The study showed during in-vitro experiments, the natural compound
demonstrated greater potency than 'Docetaxel', a commonly-used chemotherapy drug
used to treat breast cancer.

This was the first tocotrienol study to identify the key upstream regulators
that mediated breast cancer progression and invasion, the centre said.

The compound was also found to suppress the invasive ability of breast
cancer cells to spread to other organs via metastasis.

While the doses of gamma-tocotrienol showed positive anti-cancer effects,
they did not affect the normal cell functions of healthy cells, the study found.

Davos Life Science was set up in 2004, as a manufacturer that isolates and
purifies natural tocotrienol, for use in supplements, functional food, personal
care and pharmaceutical formulations.

It has established the world's largest R&D centre dedicated to tocotrienol
and the world's largest manufacturing facility for the production of natural
tocotrienol.
-- BERNAMA