by A recent study has identified a naturally occurring compound present in fruit that could potentially serve as an effective alternative therapy for colon cancer. Colon cancer, a major health concern affecting the large intestine, ranks as the third most common cancer globally.
According to the World Health Organization, there is a concerning projection of 3.2 million new cases and 1.6 million deaths annually by 2040, underscoring the critical need for innovative and less toxic treatment options.
A team of international researchers from the Universities of Portsmouth and Hong Kong conducted a study revealing that a polyphenol known as Schisandrin B (Sch B) demonstrates a significant anti-tumorigenic effect on colon cancer. This compound is naturally found in the fruit of Schisandra chinensis, also referred to as magnolia or five-flavor berry, which grows in forests of Northern China, the Russian Far East, Korea, and Japan and is commonly used in various plant-based foods and beverages.
Prior studies have indicated that Sch B exhibits anti-cancer properties in several types of cancers, including liver, breast, ovarian, gastric, and gall bladder cancers. However, the precise mechanism through which Sch B exerts its anti-tumorigenic effect on colon cancer remained unclear until now.
Dr. Murphy Wan, the senior author from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, highlighted the adverse side effects and high costs associated with conventional cancer therapies, emphasizing the necessity for new and improved treatment approaches.
Professor Hani El-Nezami, a co-lead author from the University of Eastern Finland’s School of Medicine, emphasized the significant efficacy of polyphenols in preventing cancer and their antioxidative properties that inhibit cancer cell proliferation. The findings suggest that Sch B may possess a similar therapeutic effect against colon cancer as observed in other types of cancer.
The researchers believe that further investigation into the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-tumorigenic properties of Sch B could pave the way for its exploration as a potential treatment option for colon cancer. They recommend extensive research to evaluate Sch B as a novel and targeted approach to colon cancer therapy.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
