So I was thinking (thanks to Mr. Truver) of what I could possible write about pertaining to fall or thanksgiving….well, the answer is pumpkins. Pumpkins are good for pie (if you like that disgusting crap), lattes, libido, jack o’ lanterns, and pumpkin spice everything, but did you know pumpkins show anticancer activity?

The recent study, “Characterization of anticancer, DNase and antifungal activity of pumpkin 2S albumin,” discussed how pumpkin is one of the most extensively used vegetables, and its seeds are a great basis of minerals and protein. The seeds have a therapeutic prospect about them, specifically the 2S albumin in the seeds. The 2S albumin is a class of low-molecular weight seed storage proteins made up of cysteines forming four disulfide bridges and structure comprised of five α-helices. The proteins have translational inhibitory properties, antimicrobial and serine proteinase inhibitory properties, as well as RNA hydrolytic activity, which is not conveyed in any other member of the family. The DNase and antifungal activities of pumpkin 2S albumin displayed strong anticancer activity toward breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer, as well as, hepatocellular carcinoma. The cytotoxic effect of pumpkin 2S albumin is induced through apoptosis. The only other protein that has the same potential is the lunasin peptide taken from the soybean 2S albumin.

I think that with more studies that protein 2S albumin would have great potential for cancer research and cancer cures. It is also helpful because pumpkin is eaten in many countries and could be readily available. Perhaps pumpkins are the key to a possible cure for cancer!

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006291X14008298