Urolithin A, a metabolite of ellagitannins in pomegranates, boosts immune cells’ ability to combat tumors by inducing a process known as mitophagy.
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Urolithin A (UA) has emerged as a powerhouse player in the fight against cancer, as it may naturally boost tumor-fighting immune cells
- UA is a metabolite of ellagitannins in pomegranates that has anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects
- UA “recycles and renews mitochondria” by inducing a biological pathway known as mitophagy — the process of cleaning out your mitochondria, allowing them to function at their best
- This changes T cells’ genetic program, making them more able to fight tumors
- In an upcoming clinical trial, UA will be used in people with colorectal cancer to determine its effectiveness
Globally, colorectal cancer is the third most-diagnosed cancer, with a high mortality rate in its advanced stages. One reason for its lethal effects is the ability of tissue around the tumor — or the tumor microenvironment — to suppress tumor-fighting immune cells. With the body’s immune T cells restricted, the tumor is able to grow and spread.1Good News Network November 1, 2022
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