Oregano, the common seasoning for pizzas and pastas, could be processed into a drug to protect against prostate cancer with fewer side-effects than existing treatments.
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Researchers from Long Island University, New York, studied carvacrol, a chemical in oregano, which when added to prostate cancer cells in the lab rapidly wiped them out.u00a0
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Carvacrol could now be used itself as a treatment against cancer, or as the blueprint for an even more powerful drug.u00a0
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Experts warned, though, that when oregano is eaten, it could be that carvacrol is digested before it can do any good, said media reports.
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Oregano is commonly used as seasoning for pizzas
Supriya Bavadekar, researcher at Long Island, said: "Some researchers have previously shown that eating pizza may cut down cancer risk. This effect has been mostly attributed to lycopene, a substance found in tomato sauce, but we now feel that even the oregano seasoning may play role."
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"If the study continues to yield positive results, this super-spice may present a very promising therapy for patients with prostate cancer. A significant advantage is that oregano is commonly used in food. We expect this to translate into a decreased risk of severe toxic effects," Bavadekar added.
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Existing treatment for prostate cancer can lead to side-effects like incontinence and impotence.
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These findings were presented at the Experimental Biology conference in San Diego, US.
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