What is Ellagic Acid?

Ellagic acid is officially classified as an antioxidant. Not only does it exhibit anti oxidative properties, but also it demonstrates many other medicinal properties, which have led scientists to study its use in cancer prevention. In fact, the American Cancer Society describes it in one of their publications, "American Cancer Society's Guide to Complimentary and Alternative Cancer Methods", on page 316. They state that ellagic acid is the only known natural substance that will cause apoptosis, or natural cell death in cancer cells. When the book was published, ellagic acid was not commercially available. Now it is! This does verify the studies initiated by the National Cancer Institute on the link between diet and cancer prevention. Volumes of scientific evidence have accumulated concerning the role of diet and dietary supplements in cancer prevention. The food we eat, does have a significant effect on our health and wellness, and our ability to fight cancer once it has developed.

The distinguished Dr. Daniel Nixon from the Hollings Cancer Center at the University of South Carolina has been at the forefront of this exciting research. Dr. Nixon and his team have been studying ellagic acid since 1993, and has found it to be a potent chemo-preventive compound capable of preventing both the initiation and progression of epithelial cancers. (Skin, colon, and cervical) Ellagic acid has demonstrated its ability to induce apoptosis in cervical cancer cells within several days of consumption, and to cause growth cycle arrest (G1) of cancer cells. The U.S.Government even studied ellagic acid in 1942, discovering that it caused apoptosis in cancer. This fact was even included in medical books of that time.

"Medical research confirms eating red raspberries may be one of the most potent ways
to fight cancer."
Dr. Daniel Nixon, Medical University of South Carolina