10.27.2008 9:22 AM
Purple Power
A New Variety of Violet Tomatoes Could Help Prevent Cancer
You might not be interested in eating the snapdragons decorating your home, but British researchers have borrowed from the plant in an effort to create another super food.
The scientists used genes from the snapdragon flower to increase tomatoes' cancer-fighting powers, according to USA Today.
When the genes were added, the tomatoes turned an almost eggplant purple and contained very high levels of antioxidant pigments called anthocyanins. According to the article, cancer-prone mice who were fed the genetically altered tomatoes lived significantly longer than those who did not eat them.
While tomatoes already make their own anthocyanins, lead researcher Cathie Martin said in the article that the snapdragon genes enabled the tomatoes to turn on that production to full blast.
The level of anthocyanins was about equivalent to that of blackberries, blueberries, and currants, but because tomatoes are less expensive and more frequently available, they could become a better source. But the researchers acknowledged the findings were preliminary.
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