Wasabi compound stops bladder cancer.
A study published late 2010 showed that a major compound found in Wasabia japonica stops bladder cancer cell growth and invasion of surrounding tissues in rats.
The study on rats found that a plant compound abundant in Wasabia japonica stopped the growth of bladder cancer by one-third and completely prevented metastasis – the cancer invasion of surrounding muscle tissue. Additionally, the food tested was more effective at controlling the cancer than the purified form from the laboratories. This further supports the hypothesis that it is the collection of the compounds within plants that work together to kill the cancer cells, even though one particular compound has the lead role.
This study showed that bladder tumors can be kept from spreading outside of the bladder, and support previous studies that show that Wasabia japonica has anti-cancer properties. It also adds to the overwhelming evidence that support a rich history of its use in traditional Asian folk medicines.
Bladder cancers are not regarded as life threatening unless they invade the surrounding muscles. This occurs in 15-30 percent of bladder cancer patients, mainly because of low detection rates at the initial onset. The patients then require aggressive therapy, including bladder removal. Even then, survival rates are low.
Besides Wasabia japonica, many other edibles from the cabbage family – known as cruciferous vegetables – contain smaller amounts of the active compound, but without the supporting unique compounds only found in Wasabia japonica..
In tests using human cells, the active compounds in Wasabia japonica have been found to selectively kill bladder cancer cells but leaves healthy bladder cells unharmed. When Wasabia japonica is consumed, the active compound is partly excreted in the urine, where it ends up in the bladder and works to kill bladder cancer cells.
Freeze dried Wasabia japonica rhizome powder contain a number of highly stable compounds called Glucosinolates which convert to the active compounds (called Isothiocyanates) in the human gut. The powder also contains a very effective natural catalyst which assists in this conversion.
To test the effect on human cancer, the researchers also treated human and rat bladder cancer cells with the active compound found in Wasabia japonica freeze dried powder. It was found that both the human and rat cancer cells when treated in the laboratory were also killed.
The authors of the study did mention that the maximum amount of active compound found in the powder depended upon the species used and how the powder was made.
Consuming Wasabia japonica powder with a minimum tested level of 12000 ppm of Glucosinolates would (in my opinion) would be of benefit as a starting point to improve your chances of preventing bladder cancer. After all, Wasabia japonica is a food that has been around for centuries and has no known side affects (except for nose tingling sensations).
Reference: Carcinogenesis http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/carcin/bgq202.