研究發現 紅棗居然成了抗癌的超級食物大綱

The trendy superfood 'red dates' from Asia kill cancer cells in the lab, new research suggests.

新研究發現，亞洲流行的超級食物紅棗能殺死實驗室裏的癌細胞。

Jujube fruits, which are known as red dates due to them looking similar to the Middle-Eastern staple, programme lung, breast and prostate cancer cells to commit suicide, a study published in the journal Food & Function found.

一項發表在《食品與功能》期刊的研究發現，形似中東椰棗的紅棗可以讓肺部、乳房和前列腺的癌細胞“自殺”。

Red dates are thought to trigger cancer cell death by causing 'internal stress' in tumours, according to researchers from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

英國皇家化學學會的研究人員認爲，紅棗會引發腫瘤的“內部壓力”，導致癌細胞死亡。

The results occurred after cancer cells were exposed to jujube in the lab. It is therefore unclear if the fruit helps to prevent or treat the disease in humans.

實驗室內的癌細胞和紅棗接觸後產生了這一結果。因此不清楚紅棗是有助於預防癌症，還是能夠治療癌症。

Jujube fruits, which are used in Chinese medicine to treat insomnia, a loss of appetite and diarrhoea, are available in the UK for just 1.99 pounds for a 40g bag.

紅棗在中醫裏被用來治療失眠、食慾不振和腹瀉，在英國一包40克紅棗的價格是1.99英鎊。

The researchers exposed human lung, breast and prostate cancer cells to eight compounds found in jujube fruits.

研究人員將人類肺部、乳房和前列腺的癌細胞與紅棗中的8種化合物相接觸。

Results suggest four of the compounds reduce the survival rate of these cells. In addition, three red-date compounds trigger cancerous cells to kill themselves.

結果顯示，其中四種化合物能減少這些細胞的存活率。此外，紅棗中的三種化合物還能讓癌細胞自殺。

Internal stress caused by the compounds is thought to damage tumours' structures. The researchers believe jujube extracts could be used in cancer treatments in traditional Chinese medicine.

紅棗化合物引發的內部壓力會破壞腫瘤的結構。研究人員認爲，紅棗提取物可用於癌症的中醫療法。

They add, however, further research is required to determine how jujube fruit's compounds trigger cancer cell death.

不過他們也表示，還需要進一步研究才能確定紅棗中的化合物是如何引發癌細胞死亡的。