Purple GM tomatoes to help fight cancer

Expressing genes from snapdragons, the researchers at the John Innes Centre in Cambridgeshire were able to grow tomatoes high in health-protecting anthocyanins

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Anthocyanins offer protection against certain cancers, cardiovascular disease and age-related degenerative diseases and there is evidence they also have anti-inflammatory activity, promote visual acuity and hinder obesity and diabetes.

The research is part of a series of investigations looking at improving the nutritional quality of commonly-eaten fruit and vegetables.

Professor Cathie Martin from the John Innes Centre: “Most people do not eat 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day, but they can get more benefit from those they do eat if common fruit and veg can be developed that are higher in bioactive compounds.”

In pilot tests, the lifespan of cancer-susceptible mice was significantly extended when their diet was supplemented with the purple tomatoes compared to normal red tomatoes and scientists hope it could open the door to a raft of super-nutritional GM foods.

“This is one of the first examples of metabolic engineering that offers the potential to promote health through diet by reducing the impact of chronic disease,” said Prof. Martin.

“And certainly the first example of a GMO with a trait that really offers a potential benefit for all consumers.

"The next step will be to take the preclinical data forward to human studies with volunteers to see if we can promote health through dietary preventive medicine strategies.”

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