There are unique substances found in ordinary products that can save from cancer

January 10, 2023  16:14

Glycoalkaloids, which are found in nightshade - potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes - prevent the reproduction of cancer cells. Polish scientists came to this conclusion. These organic compounds have always been considered toxic, but according to experts, the right dose can turn poison into medicine.

In plants, glycoalkaloids play the role of a natural defense against phytopathogens and herbivores. In pharmacology, solanidine and its homologues are used as an active substance for the production of broad-spectrum steroid preparations. They have not yet been used to treat cancer.

Polish scientists led by Magdalena Winkel from the Adam Mickiewicz University analyzed in the laboratory, as well as using computer simulations, how biologically active compounds from the group of glycoalkaloids interact with cancer cells. The researchers concluded that five glycoalkaloids found in crude nightshade fruit extracts, solanine, chaconine, solasonine, solamargin, and tomatine, have antitumor potential.

The biological mechanism of their action is mainly the activation of various cellular and molecular pathways leading to the death of cancer cells. First of all, we are talking about starting the processes of apoptosis and autophagy. In the first case, malignant cells fall apart, and in the second, they self-destruct, eat themselves.

At the intracellular level, glycoalkaloids inhibit proliferation, destroy mitochondria, and increase the membrane permeability of lysosomes, organelles in which macromolecules are digested during autophagy. As a result, tumor growth stops, the growth of metastases and malignant angiogenesis (degeneration) of the surrounding blood vessels are blocked.

Of the five compounds studied, the most effective was solanine, which is found in fruits, tops and peel of potatoes. In mature and healthy tubers, this substance is small, but in long-stored, green and germinated tubers, its amount increases sharply. And especially a lot - in the sprouts themselves. Therefore, it is dangerous to feed animals with spoiled and sprouted potatoes - this can lead to severe poisoning.

But in small doses, toxic glycoalkaloids become curative. Solanine blocks the proliferation of leukemic cells, stops the conversion of certain chemicals into carcinogens in the body, and inhibits the metastasis of existing tumors.

Solanine-related chaconine, which imparts a bitter taste to immature potato tubers, has anti-inflammatory properties and may treat sepsis.

Solasonin, present in all nightshades, targets cancer stem cells, which largely determine the resistance of a tumor to treatment.

Solamargin, which is mainly found in eggplant, stops the reproduction of liver cancer cells.

Tomatine, found in the stems and leaves of tomatoes (and in much lower concentrations in fruits), supports the regulation of the cell cycle of the body as a whole, increasing resistance to carcinogenesis.

The authors proved that in therapeutic doses, glycoalkaloids are non-toxic (they were compared with the widely used antibiotics tetracycline and doxorubicin), do not damage DNA and do not lead to tumor recurrences. The only possible side effect is a short-term negative effect on the reproductive system.

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