US researchers have suggested that grape seed extract can kill leukaemia cells within 24 hours of exposure.

Grape seed extract was found to stimulate the cancerous cells into suicide with results as high as 76% success rate. Healthy cells within the body were unharmed during the test.

The search for an agent to affect cancer cells but leaves other cells unharmed has been ongoing but this latest study suggests grape seed extract may provide an answer.

Scientists were quick to point out that these preliminary studies do not necessarily mean eating grapes will prevent cancer but antioxidants contained within foods such as grapes are known to have anti-cancer properties. Antioxidants are also beneficial to the heart.

Lab tests on grape seed extract have already proven beneficial to the skin, bowel, stomach, lungs and breasts as well as cancer cells in the prostate.

This latest test is the first of its kind to study its effects on blood cancer.

The process of cells effectively committing suicide is known as ‘apoptosis’ and is the body’s natural process of removing damaged and harmful cells. When this process fails, cancer cells survive and increase in numbers. Grape seed extract was found to activate a protein that regulates this process.

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