Dark red onions are rich in dietary flavonoids, has the potential to help fight off cancer of the colon and breast, a researcher has suggested. Abdulmonem Murayyan, doctoral student at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada said that they found red onions were excellent at killing cancer cells.
Murayyan added that onions activated pathways that encourage cancer cells to undergo apoptosis. They promoted a hostile environment for cancer cells and disrupted communication between cancer cells, which inhibited their growth.
Food Research International journal recently published a study which revealed that red onions contain high levels of Quercetin, a plant polyphenol from the flavonoid group which is also found in many fruits, vegetables, leaves, and grains and include benefits such as lowering inflammation and fighting allergies, and many more.
Additionally, red onions were also found to have large amounts of anthocyanin, which enhances the scavenging properties of Quercetin molecules.
Murayyan said that Anthocyanin was instrumental in providing color to fruits and vegetables so it makes sense that the red onions, which are darkest in color possibly could have the most cancer-fighting power.
In the first study, researchers studied the efficiency of onions at killing cancer cells and they are of
the opinion that not all onions are created equal.The team tested five onion types grown in Ontario and revealed that the Ruby Ring onion variety which has hard, firm, tall globe-shaped bulbs with dark red color features — came out on top.
Quercetin was extracted from the five different onion varieties and cells of the colon and breast cancer were placed in direct contact with it. The team found them effective at killing the cancerous cells.
Murayyan said the next step would be to test onion’s cancer-fighting powers in human trials.
Currently onion is used in salads and on burgers as a preventative measure. Eventually researchers expect onion extract will be added to food products such as juice or baked goods and also Quercetin extract will be sold in pill form as a type of natural cancer treatment.
