Fermented Stevia Extract Shows Potential as Anti-Cancer Agent, Study Suggests
A preliminary study has suggested that fermented stevia extract may hold the potential to combat pancreatic cancer cells, although experts stress that further research is needed before any clinical applications can be considered. Researchers from Hiroshima University in Japan conducted a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, which investigated the anti-cancer properties of stevia leaf extract when subjected to fermentation with a specific bacterial strain.
The leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana) are commonly used to produce stevia extract, a natural sweetener often used as a sugar substitute. In the laboratory, the fermented extract was found to exhibit ‘significantly enhanced antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity’ against pancreatic cancer cells, according to the researchers. This led them to believe that the substance could be a ‘promising candidate for pancreatic cancer treatment.’
Dr. Paul E. Oberstein, a medical oncologist and assistant director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, highlighted the study’s potential. ‘This is an interesting study because it evaluated something derived from a natural plant (stevia) and showed that it may have utility in stopping cancer cells from growing in the laboratory,’ he explained. However, Oberstein also cautioned that the study is preliminary and that more human trials are required. ‘The actual stevia plant does not seem to have any benefit for stopping cancer, so they had to use a chemical process to change the plant and make it stronger with a fermentation process.’ He expressed concerns about potential side effects or toxicity resulting from the modification of the plant.
Dr. Kristen Arnold, a surgical oncologist and pancreatic cancer specialist at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, shared her thoughts on the research. ‘Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive malignancy,’ she noted. ‘And we know that even with the most aggressive of therapies, our outcomes are not good.’ Arnold emphasized that while the data is early, it is encouraging for the pancreatic cancer community. ‘This is the process of how we discover new treatments – some of which turn out to be absolute game-changers and make dramatic changes in the lives of our patients.’
The study’s authors believe their findings could be a significant step forward in the development of more effective anti-cancer treatments. However, they acknowledged that this is just the beginning and that extensive research and clinical trials are necessary before any practical application can be considered. ‘I hope the researchers keep testing this in various formats and in people,’ Oberstein said. He also noted that the study did not involve human subjects and that there are many unknowns about whether the fermented stevia extract will be effective in real-world situations. ‘The study suggests that if the stevia can be changed in the lab, it may have an impact, so hopefully they will further test this and determine whether this effect happens when tested in people and if it doesn’t cause new side effects,’ he added.
Arnold advised patients with pancreatic cancer to consult with healthcare providers to explore clinical trial opportunities as new scientific advancements continue to develop. ‘The clinical trials are ultimately what determine how we treat patients on a day-to-day basis,’ she concluded.