Compounds in cranberries may help improve the effectiveness of drugs that are used in chemotherapy to fight ovarian cancer, researchers said.

The report to the American Chemical Society was based on lab work, not studies on real patients in a clinical setting.

Scientists found that ovarian cancer cells were six times more likely to die after exposure to platinum drugs when mixed with chemicals found in cranberries.

Researchers from Rutgers University said that, though studies in people are needed, the finding could reduce harmful side effects from chemotherapy.

They also cautioned that patients with ovarian cancer should always consult with their physicians before trying any type of anti-cancer therapy.

Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chemotherapy using platinum drugs, including cisplatin and paraplatin, is a mainstay treatment for ovarian cancer. However, cancer cells tend to develop resistance to them, and higher doses of the drugs can cause nerve damage and kidney failure.

Past research has suggested that cranberry juice has a wide range of potential health benefits, including the ability to fight urinary tract infections, stomach ulcers and cancer.