Researchers at the University of KY and Ohio State to see if a black raspberry gel which carries two acids that can inhibit oral tumor cancer growth will work on humans. Oral cancer, which causes up to 8,000 deaths nationally each year, is generally associated with alcohol and tobacco use. The idea for a raspberry-based medication was conceived by doctors at Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus. The raspberry gel was then developed by Dr. Mumper, the associate director at UK's Center for Pharmaceutical Science & Technology. Natural foods advocates have touted the healthful benefits of raspberries for years. The trial at Ohio State is apparently is one of the first efforts by mainstream medicine to develop a medication from the fruit. The pulp of black raspberries contains two substances anthocyanin and ellagic acid that are thought to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the ability to slow tumor growth. Ohio State researcher Gary Stoner, who has been studying the anti-cancer properties of raspberries for years, said his group determined that freeze-drying the berries and grounding them into powder increased the concentration of cancer-preventive substances tenfold. Stoner found that when the powder was fed to test animals, it appeared to inhibit the development of esophageal and colon cancer as well as oral cancers. Source: Associated Press, April, 2005 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.