London, Nov 4 (IANS) Black raspberries may help prevent bowel cancer, a study has found.

Scientists found that a freeze-dried version of the fruit could reduce the number of tumours in a strain of mice prone to the disease by 60 percent, reports express.co.uk.

Previous research had indicated that black raspberries have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.

In the study, the fruit inhibited tumour development by suppressing a protein called beta-catenin.

‘We saw the black raspberry as a natural product, very powerful, and easy to access,’ said study leader Wancai Yang, from the University of Illinois in Chicago.

Scientists saw a broad range of protective effects in the bowels of the mice that were given the supplement.