Destany “Sky” Pete, a high school student, won the 2017 Elko County Science Fair in Nevada after she re-discovered that a long-used traditional dish containing a specific plant known as chokecherry possesses cancer-killing properties.
After having a conversation with one of the elders of her tribe, Pete, a Native American and a member of the Shoshone and Paiute Tribes from the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Idaho and Nevada, came to the conclusion that the tribe’s health issues were a result of the reduced consumption of traditional foods, specifically toishabui or chokecherry pudding.
The bright student researched the medical properties of the chokecherry, a plant still planted and harvested by the members of her community.
Once she showed interest in researching the medical properties of the plant, Pete got in touch with Dr. Ken Cornell, a biochemistry professor at Boise State University specializing in cancer cell research, through one of her high school teachers.
They tested four types of chokecherry specimens on uterine sarcoma cancer cells and allowed a 24-hour incubation period. The specimens included: Traditional chokecherry pudding with crushed seeds, chokecherry pudding without seeds, chokecherry juice alone, and chokecherry extract.
The results showed that only the traditionally prepared pudding with crushed seeds exhibited cancer-inhibiting properties.
“The traditional (Shoshone and Paiute) method of preparing chokecherry pudding includes the seed of the chokecherry, crushed up,” said Pete. “Nowadays, some people just kind of juice the berry and take out the seed completely. But maybe the seed has medicine that can help us to stay well.”
The study was conducted in-vitro, or in test tubes, meaning its implications are limited. However, it is considered a breakthrough in the fight against cancer.
Speaking of her accomplishment, Pete said she’s proud to be representing her Native American heritage, adding that science and culture often go hand by hand.
Chokeberries, also known as arena berries, are small red berries native to North America that have anti-inflammatory properties. These berries are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K.
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