A high school student's award-winning science fair project confirms the cancer-killing potential of traditional Native American chokecherry pudding

A high school student's award-winning science fair project confirms the cancer-killing potential of traditional Native American chokecherry pudding

The knowledge of medicinal plants passed down from our ancestors has the potential to provide valuable insights for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. However, anecdotal evidence from traditional practices is often insufficient for modern scientific investigations that require empirical evidence. Funding for such research can be scarce, particularly for natural remedies that cannot be patented, limiting corporate interest and sponsorship.

Interview with Pieris Project – University…

Please enable JavaScript

Pieris Project Interview – Matthew Eng and Sean Ryan, graduate students at the University of Notre Dame

Occasionally, unexpected sources can provide definitive evidence of a plant's medicinal value. One such example involves a traditional recipe and plant that gained recognition through the efforts of a Native American student at the International Science Fair in Los Angeles. According to Indian Country Today, Destany "Sky" Pete, a member of the Shoshone and Paiute tribes from the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Idaho and Nevada, discovered that her tribe's current health problems were related to a lack of traditional foods, including the forgotten recipe for toishabui, or chokecherry pudding.

Intrigued by the potential health benefits of chokecherry pudding, particularly its supposed cancer-fighting properties, Sky decided to conduct a scientific experiment to test these claims. She enlisted the help of biochemistry professor Dr. Ken Cornell from Boise State University, who specializes in cancer cell research.

Dr. Cornell tested four types of chokecherry samples on uterine sarcoma cancer cells. Remarkably, only one sample – the traditional chokecherry pudding – successfully inhibited the growth of cancer cells. Within just 24 hours, the cancer cells began to die. Sky noted that the pudding's success was due to the inclusion of crushed chokecherry pits, which were a crucial part of the recipe. The community celebrated this breakthrough as it provided scientific evidence of another herb's potential in treating cancer. Sky's experiment took first place at the 2017 Elko County Science Fair in Nevada, beating more than 440 other projects. She plans to continue her research by testing other types of cancer cells over a longer period of time.

Sky expressed her belief that our ancestors were healthier because of the foods they consumed and that modern health problems such as diabetes are due to a lack of traditional foods in our diet. “It was the traditional preparation of Toishabui with the crushed seeds that had the results,” Sky said. "I feel like our ancestors were really healthy. Nowadays we are prone to diabetes and other diseases. But back then, it was our food that made us healthy."

Chokecherry – The cancer-fighting fruit with antioxidant properties

Chokecherry is a North American tree that produces small, antioxidant-rich fruits that ripen in late summer. The tiny seeds of these fruits have been shown to have cancer-fighting properties. Unfortunately, the pits have been largely forgotten, and the most popular chokecherry recipe, chokecherry jam, requires that the pits be discarded. To revive the traditional medicinal uses of chokecherry, it is important to use the whole fruit including the seeds. A traditional recipe is chokecherry pudding, which contains crushed seeds. Although chokecherry seeds contain a small amount of a cyanide-like substance, they are safe to eat in small amounts and cooking the pudding eliminates the risk. Other ways to enjoy chokecherries include making fruit leather, jam, or juice.

Chokecherry pudding recipe

Although the chokecherry pudding recipe may vary between different strains, the key factor is to use the entire chokecherry fruit along with the seeds. It is important to note that chokecherries are different from black cherries and other types of cherries, and attempting the recipe with a different fruit may result in different health benefits and possible risks.

According to Sky, the traditional approach to making chokecherry pudding is to crush the seeds of the chokechery. However, in modern times, some people extract the seeds while juicing the berry. Sky believes the seed may have medicinal properties that contribute to overall well-being.

Here is a recipe from the Idaho State University website:

1. Wählen Sie frische Apfelkirschen vom Baum.
2. Spülen Sie die Beeren gründlich ab und legen Sie sie auf eine harte Schneidefläche, vorzugsweise Stein (ein Steinmörser kann nützlich sein, und manche Leute verwenden einen Fleischwolf, um die Kerne zu mahlen).
3. Zerdrücken Sie die Kerne und Beeren zusammen.
4. Die zerkleinerte Mischung in einen kleinen Topf mit kochendem Wasser geben und kochen, bis sich die Farbe des Wassers ändert.
5. Mehl in den Topf geben, bis die Mischung die Konsistenz eines flüssigen Puddings erreicht.
6. Zucker nach Geschmack zugeben und umrühren.
7. Vom Herd nehmen, abkühlen lassen und genießen.

What about the cyanide in chokecherry pudding?

As with any medical material, it is important to remember that “the dose makes the poison.” Chokecherry seeds contain a small amount of a cyanide-like substance, but they are safe to eat in small amounts. In fact, like apple seeds, they may even have medicinal properties. However, taking too many can become a health risk, so it's always best to consult a naturopathic doctor if you have any concerns.

Luckily, you don't have to worry about cyanide in chokecherry pudding. The crushed chokecherry seeds become completely safe when cooking the pudding, so you can enjoy the fruit's medicinal benefits without risk. And if you just want to enjoy the taste, you can always make fruit leather, jam or juice, or buy chokecherry jelly online.

Sources: