When it comes to cancer-fighting foods, most people think of leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables. However, fruits such as watermelon and tomatoes are often overlooked despite their numerous health benefits.

In particular, two fruits with red flesh have been found to pack a potent anti-cancer punch: pomegranates and blood oranges.

Pomegranates: The Anti-Cancer Superfruit

Pomegranates have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and scientific research has confirmed their many health benefits.

When it comes to cancer prevention, pomegranates stand out for their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative properties.

Antioxidant Power

One of the key ways in which pomegranates fight cancer is through their high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize free radicals, which are reactive molecules that can damage cells and contribute to cancer growth.

Pomegranates are particularly rich in polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that has been shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce programmed cell death (apoptosis) in various types of cancer cells, including breast, prostate, colon, and lung cancer cells.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Inflammation is a key player in cancer development and progression. Pomegranates have been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory effects, which may contribute to their anti-cancer properties.

One study found that pomegranate extract decreased inflammation and macrophage infiltration in prostate cancer tissue in mice, leading to a significant reduction in tumor growth and angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels that feed tumors).

Anti-Proliferative Activity

Pomegranates have also been found to inhibit cancer cell growth and proliferation in various ways. For example, they have been shown to induce cell cycle arrest and decrease the expression of genes involved in cancer cell growth and survival.

Pomegranates may also block the signaling pathways that contribute to cancer cell survival and invasion. In fact, several studies have found that pomegranate extract and juice can reduce the growth and spread of breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells in laboratory and animal studies.

Blood Oranges: The Cancer-Fighting Citrus

Blood oranges are a type of orange with a unique red flesh and a sweet, tangy taste. Like pomegranates, blood oranges are also rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that have been shown to have anti-cancer effects.

Anthocyanins: The Key to Blood Orange’s Cancer-Fighting Power

One of the unique compounds found in blood oranges is anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid that gives the fruit its red color.

Anthocyanins have been found to have potent anti-cancer effects, including inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and suppression of tumor growth and angiogenesis.

Related Article Two Red-Fleshed Fruits That Pack a Powerful Anti-Cancer Punch

Anti-Angiogenic Effects

In one study, blood orange juice was found to inhibit the growth and spread of colon cancer cells in mice by reducing the formation of blood vessels that feed tumors.

This anti-angiogenic effect may be due to the anthocyanins and other antioxidants found in blood oranges.

Anti-Proliferative Activity

Blood oranges have also been found to inhibit the growth and proliferation of various types of cancer cells, including lung, breast, and prostate cancer cells.

Anthocyanins in blood oranges may achieve this by blocking the signaling pathways that contribute to cancer cell growth and survival.

Protective Effects of Lycopene in Tomatoes

Tomatoes are another fruit with red flesh that has been found to have anti-cancer properties. However, the main compound responsible for its cancer-fighting power is not an antioxidant or anti-inflammatory, but rather a carotenoid called lycopene.

Lycopene: The Cancer-Fighting Carotenoid

Lycopene is a pigment that gives tomatoes their red color, and it has been extensively studied for its anti-cancer properties. Like other carotenoids, lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals and protect cells from damage.

However, lycopene has also been found to have other unique mechanisms of action that make it a potent cancer fighter.

Induction of Apoptosis

Several studies have found that lycopene can induce programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells, including breast, prostate, and lung cancer cells.

Lycopene may achieve this by blocking the signaling pathways that promote cancer cell growth and survival, and by increasing the expression of genes that promote apoptosis.

Inhibition of Angiogenesis

Lycopene has also been found to have anti-angiogenic effects, similar to those of pomegranates and blood oranges.

In one laboratory study, lycopene was found to inhibit the formation of blood vessels that feed ovarian cancer cells, leading to decreased tumor growth and invasion. Other studies have found similar effects in breast and prostate cancer cells.

Summary

Pomegranates, blood oranges, and tomatoes are three fruits with red flesh that have been found to have potent anti-cancer properties.

Pomegranates are particularly rich in polyphenols that can inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, while blood oranges are rich in anthocyanins that can suppress tumor growth and angiogenesis. Tomatoes, on the other hand, owe their cancer-fighting power to the carotenoid lycopene, which can induce apoptosis and inhibit angiogenesis in various types of cancer cells.