A recent study highlighted the potential of sweet potato leaves and stems, which are often discarded, to inhibit the growth of breast and lung cancer cells.
Researchers from Tennessee State University recently published a study in the international journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, reporting that extracts from sweet potato leaves and stems effectively inhibited cancer cell growth.
The research team extracted compounds using methanol from the leaves and stems of purple sweet potatoes (All-Purple) and orange sweet potatoes (Carolina Ruby). They then treated breast and lung cancer cells with these extracts to analyze survival rate changes. The results showed that extracts from purple sweet potato leaves were more effective at inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells. In contrast, extracts from orange sweet potato leaves and stems exhibited stronger inhibitory effects on lung cancer cells.
Notably, the extract from orange sweet potato leaves and stems demonstrated slightly higher inhibition in lung cancer cells than tamoxifen, a commonly used breast cancer treatment. However, the researchers emphasized that these results were observed under specific laboratory conditions, and further studies are required to determine their applicability in clinical treatments.
The study also examined the effects of varying dosages of sweet potato extracts. Lower concentrations did not significantly inhibit cancer cell growth, but the inhibition rate rose proportionally as the quantity increased.
This research presents new possibilities for sweet potato leaves and stems, which are primarily discarded or used as animal feed in the West. The research team stated that incorporating sweet potato leaves and stems into the diet could be a protective strategy for cancer prevention. They also noted that this study was conducted at the cellular level, and further evaluations through animal and clinical studies are necessary to confirm its effects in humans.
The research team is currently planning additional studies to analyze how specific bioactive compounds interact with cancer cells at the molecular level. Future research will determine whether sweet potato leaves and stems can be developed into functional foods or used as cancer treatment ingredients.
