Previous research has found that antioxidants reduce or prevent oxidation in certain cells, thus preventing cell or tissue damage that could lead to cancer. They had similar success in tests with human liver tumor cells. They found that colon cancer proliferation was inhibited 57 percent with extract containing apple skin , and 40 percent by extract not containing skin. Apples contain almost 100 phytochemicals, he added, which may explain their remarkable antioxidant punch. Another study by the National Cancer Institute reported that foods containing flavonoids like those found in apples may reduce the risk of lung cancer by as much as 50 percent.
Apples have the highest concentration of flavonoids of any fruit.
The old adage not only still applies, but it may actually be an understatement.