For those who have already been treated for prostate cancer, juice from a less common fruit may limit recurrence, scientists say.

An ongoing study focused on the effects of pomegranate juice in patients who had rising prostate-specific antigen levels after surgery or radiotherapy to reduce tumor size.

Participants were asked to consume 8 ounces of the beverage daily, and researchers report that their PSA doubling time has increased from roughly 15 months at the beginning to five years currently.

"This study suggests that pomegranate juice may effectively slow the progression of prostate cancer after unsuccessful treatment," said Dr Christopher Amling. "This finding and other ongoing research might one day reveal that pomegranate juice is an effective prostate cancer preventative agent as well."

A related study is researching how different patients react to the treatment in a placebo-controlled study, following evidence that some participants were more sensitive in their response to pomegranate juice.

The fruit may have another beneficial effect in reducing chronic inflammatory conditions, based on recent research from Case Western Reserve University that found reduced inflammation in animal participants.