Commonly Used Sweetener Could Help Treat Aggressive Forms Of Cancer

A recent study from Hiroshima University in Japan suggests that stevia leaf extract, a common sweetener, could potentially be used to fight pancreatic cancer. Researchers discovered that when stevia extract is fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum, a bacteria found in yogurt and fermented vegetables, it produces a compound called chlorogenic acid methyl ester (CAME). This compound showed significant effectiveness against pancreatic cancer cells in laboratory tests.

The study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, found that the fermented stevia extract exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity against cancer cells, suggesting it could be a promising candidate for treatment. The researchers optimized the fermentation process to enhance the extract's potency, achieving significant results in killing cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.

Dr. Paul E. Oberstein, a medical oncologist at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, told Fox News that while the study is intriguing, it is important to approach these findings with caution since the research was conducted in a lab setting and not on humans.

Dr. Kristen Arnold, a surgical oncologist at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, expressed optimism about the study's potential in an interview with Fox News, highlighting the need for new treatments for pancreatic cancer, which remains one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. However, both experts emphasized that more research, including animal studies and human trials, is necessary to confirm the efficacy and safety of the treatment.

Despite the promising findings, further studies are needed to explore the potential of fermented stevia extract as a viable cancer treatment.