Three natural compounds - ursolic acid, curcumin, resveratrol - consumed in combination, can inhibit prostate cancer cell growth by restricting glutamate consumption, according to researchers at the University of Texas, Austin using animal studies; each also has known properties against cancer stem cells.
What is interesting is that there is also research showing these same three compounds restricting pancreatic cancer, skin cancer and breast cancer.
Prostate cancer and ursolic acid, curcumin and resveratrol
First, the University of Texas researchers tested 142 natural compounds on both mouse and human prostate cells in vitro, to understand which compounds had the greatest potential and that the results would be consistent between mice and men.
Then the most promising bioactive compounds were tested in mice given prostate cancer. Stefano Tiziani, the assistant professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dell Pediatric Research Institute led the team, which concluded that three nutrients in particular had significant benefits (1).
The three compounds were:
-
Curcumin, found as the orange colouring and approximately 3 per cent of turmeric root;
-
Resveratrol, found in red grape skins, blueberries, cranberries, cocoa, pistachios and peanuts;
-
Ursolic acid, found in Holy Basil (Tulsi), pistachio nuts, rosemary, thyme, Arabica coffee, eucalyptus and the outer peel of many fruits such as apples.
What was important was that using ursolic acid with either curcumin or resveratrol stopped cancer cells using glutamate to grow. Glutamate is an amino acid, often used as an energy source by cancer cells. This is particularly the case in prostate cancer. In other words, these three compounds could starve the prostate cancer.
Ursolic acid has various pharmacological activities, and can reduce blood fat as well as having antihepatic, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Research from China indicates that ursolic acid activates the apoptosis of prostate cancer via ROCK/PTEN mediated cofilin-1/cytochrome c which mediated caspase-3/9 activities (2).
Chris Woollams former Oxford Biochemist and a founder of CANCERactive said, “The three compounds are all known to have strong anti-cancer benefits from previous research studies. Here, they were used in combination and blocked the uptake of glutamate, an essential nutrient for prostate tumours to grow. It is possible you could consume good levels of the foods in your Rainbow Diet, but it is probably better to add a natural supplement of each on top to deliver a good dose. These findings also have significant implications for other cancers which use glutamate, for example GBM, when glucose is restricted."
Other bioactive compounds that were interesting in the Chinese research included sulforaphane (in sprouting seeds and broccoli), 6-shogaol (in ginger) and EGCG (from green tea).
Glutamine is an amino acid in protein, and found in higher levels in animal protein than in plant protein. It ferments with an enzyme called glutaminase into glutamate, another amino acid. This step can be restricted by Lycopene. But glutamate isn't bound in protein, rather it is commonly the 'reserve' fuel in tumours primarily feeding on sugar. In some cancers - for example, prostate and brain cancer, it is a significant fuel.
URSOLIC acid is increasingly being shown to have strong anti-cancer benefits. A 2025 review showed it had anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, and metabolic-regulating properties (3). It has also been shown to limit stem cells in breast cancer (4). It is found in Holy Basil, in pistachio nuts, apple peel and in herbs such as rosemary.
Another name for Holy Basil is Tulsi and ursolic acid is just one of the many health promoting compounds in this number one Ayurvedic herb. It is used widely in Indian Medicine. Tulsi, or Holy Basil, contains other compounds with anti-cancer benefits such as camphor, eucalyptol and eugenol. The leaves, in particular, contain high levels of eugenol, which also has strong anti-cancer benefits (5).
CURCUMIN and RESVERATROL are bioactive natural compounds displaying anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties. In research, both curcumin and resveratrol were efficient in reducing cancer cell survival and they were differently shown to affect autophagy (6). Both have anti-cancer stem cell properties. See the Top Ten Compounds for fighting cancer stem cells.
Prostate cancer has high levels of cancer stem cells which are believed to drive tumour initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance (7). Perhaps this is another reason the combination of ursolic acid, curcumin and resveratrol is so strong.
Indeed, other studies have shown that ursolic acid kills cancer cells and cancer stem cells. When you add turmeric you kill more; and when you add resveratrol you kill even more.
Ursolic acid, turmeric, resveratrol and other cancers - pancreatic cancer, skin cancer
We covered the potential with breast cancer stem cells above.
One study (9) reviewed the same three compounds with pancreatic cancer, which has high levels of Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs).
Several studies have also shown that natural compounds such as ursolic acid from apple peel, along with resveratrol could reduce skin cancer tumours by stopping them feeding, when used topically (10).
Why not consider asking Chris Woollams to build you a Personal Programme for Prostate, skin or Pancreatic cancer? See what patients say about PPs HERE
"If you are already thinking of buying these products you may like to see what Natural Selection has by clicking here."
Go to: Foods that increase prostate cancer spread!
* * * * * *
References:
1. The research was covered in the journal Nature - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41698-017-0024-z
2. Ursolic acid activates the apoptosis of prostate cancer via ROCK/PTEN mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin-1; Dawei Mu et al; Oncol Lett, 2018 Mar;15(3):3202-3206
3. Recent developments on ursolic acid and its potential biological applications; R Arulnangai et al; Toxicology Reports, Volume 14, June 2025, 101900
4. Inhibitory Effects of Ursolic Acid on the Stemness and Progression of Human Breast Cancer Cells by Modulating Argonaute-2; Wen-Ling Liao et al; Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Dec 26;24(1):366.
5. An Update on the Therapeutic Anticancer Potential of Ocimum sanctum L.: “Elixir of Life”; Mohammad Raghibul Hasan et al, Molecules. 2023 Jan 25;28(3):1193.
6. New Insights into Curcumin- and Resveratrol-Mediated Anti-Cancer Effects; Andrea Arena et al; Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021 Oct 22;14(11):1068.
7. Prostate cancer stem cells; SH Lang et al; J Pathol. 2009 Jan;217(2):299–306.
8. Effect of Combined Treatment with Ursolic Acid and Resveratrol on Skin Tumor Promotion by 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-Acetate; Cancer prevention research; September 1, 2015
9. Naturally occurring compounds as pancreatic cancer therapeutics; Ines Lohse, Erin Wildermuth, Shaun P. Brothers, Oncotarget. 2018; 9:35448-35457
10. Effect of Combined Treatment with Ursolic Acid and Resveratrol on Skin Tumor Promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate; Jiyoon Cho et al; Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2015 Jun 22;8(9):817–825