The new study reveals that leaves and sweet potato strains, often rejected, contain strong compounds that can slow down the growth of cancer cells – offering a natural alternative to cancer fighting.
​​​​​​​Study: Sweetpotato in the chest (BT549) and lungs (A549) cancer cell lines. Credit Picture: Martina Sappe
A study led by researchers from the State University of Tennessee, USA, found that methanolic leaf and executives methanolic extracts can prevent the growth of breast and lung cancer cell growth. Findings are published in the magazine BMC supplementary medicine and treatments.
Background
Sweet potato is an extremely nutritious vegetable that belongs to Convolvulaceae family. The plant is located in more than 100 countries, while developing countries account for about 95% of world production.
The large root of the tuber is the widely consumed part of the sweet potato plant. The leaves are mainly consumed in the Pacific Ocean, Africa, Asia, China, Taiwan, the Caribbean and South and Central America.
Sweet potato leaves, strains, stems, peel and flesh are rich sources of bioactive flavonoids, proteins, phenolic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, carotenoids and anthocyanins, associated with antioxidants, antioxidants, antioxidants, antioxidants, antioxidants counterparty and immunosyntocystic.
Evidence suggests that sweet potato extracts can reduce oxidative stress and prevent the risk of developing various health situations, including allergies, aging, cardiovascular disorders, viral infections, degeneration of macular.
The majority of sweet potato studies have focused on its antioxidant properties. Among studies on anti -cancer properties, most have tried the effect of sweet potato roots from different cultivated varieties (varieties) on the viability of cancer cells.
Although the entire sweet potato plant, including tubers, greens and executives, has been used as traditional medicine for centuries, these parts are often rejected or used as feeds. This study emphasizes the possibility of using these unused plants for health benefits.
In this study, the researchers investigated the effects of sweet potato leaves and a combination of leaves and strains on the viability of human breast and lung cancer cells.
The study
The study explored the anti-proliferative (cytotoxic) effects of methanolic leaf extracts and sweet potato strains collected from the organic research farm of the Tennessee State University. Two types of sweet potato strains, including pressures and orange strains, were tested.
Extracts were used to treat cell and lung cancer cell series and a cell viability test was carried out to determine cytotoxic effects of extracts. Tamoxifen, a drug to treat breast cancer, was also used to treat as a positive test.
Study findings
The study found that leaf extracts from the sweet potato variety of all Purple (Purple-Fleshed) and the extracts of the Carolina Ruby (orange-fishery) of the sweet potato potato. the dose.
The findings of the viability test of cells have shown that the values ​​of half a maximum efficient concentration (EC50) of all sweet potato leaf extracts were 0.013 µg/µl for lung cancer (A549) and 0.002 µg/µl for BT Cancer (BT549) Breast cancer cells.
At a concentration of 0.003 µg/µl, the extracts of sweet potatoes of all fins inhibit the growth of lung and breast cancer cells by 37% and 76%, respectively.
In contrast to the extracts of sweet potato leaf of all fins, which showed a lower EC50 price for breast cancer cell line, Carolina Ruby sweet potato leaves, and STEM extracts showed a lower EC50 value for the cell line of the cancer of the lung cancer (0.0014 mg). Breast cancer (EC50 = 0.007 µg/µl).
In lung cancer cells, Carolina Ruby Sweet Potato extracts and STEM extracts caused a 96% growth suspension at a concentration of 0.0056 µg/µl.
These findings indicate that the magnitude of the anti-proliferative effects of natural products is specific to cancer, which means that extracts can affect different types of cancer in different ways.
Interestingly, the Carolina Ruby leaf extract and executive and the stem extract at 0.0056 µg/µL showed a suspensive effect on lung cancer cells that was about 1% higher than that of Tamoxifen, underlining its potential as a powerful natural alternative.
Overall, the study found that sweet potato extracts (both leaf extract and the combination of leaf and strain extracts) had minimal cytotoxic effects at lower concentrations but had significant inhibitory effects at higher concentrations.
Importance
The study highlights the cytotoxic effects of leaves and sweet potato strains on human cancer cells. Between the two cultivated varieties tested, the sweet potato leaf extracts of all sweet potatoes had the strongest effect on breast cancer cells, while Carolina Ruby extracts and STEM extracts were more effective than lung cancer cells.
The anti -cancer activity of sweet potato extracts is believed to be driven by high levels of bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols and anthocyanins. These compounds are known to cause the cellular interruption and promote apoptosis (scheduled cell death) in cancer cells.
The observed anti-proliferative effects of the sweet potato are aligned with prior research, indicating that bioactive ingredients on sweet potato leaves, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, can inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
While the current study confirms the cytotoxic effects of sweet potato extracts, future research should focus on identifying specific bioactive compounds, understanding their molecular mechanisms and evaluating their effects on gene expression and cancer.
Overall, the findings of the study emphasize the importance of integrating leaf and sweet potato executives into regular diets, not only for their nutritional benefits but also for their potential role in cancer prevention.
Future instructions
For a deeper understanding of anti-cancer mechanisms, future studies should characterize and identify the basic bioactive compounds responsible for the anti-proliferative effects of the sweet potato, explore their effects on gene regulation and explore their role.
