A work developed in Andalusian research centers has focused on an ingredient as common as eggplant to explore new avenues in the fight against colon cancer. Starting from a variety of eggplant obtained by crossing different speciesA group of scientists has observed that extracts from its seeds are able to slow the growth of tumor cells in different experimental models.
The results have been obtained in human and mouse cell cultures, as well as in animals with induced tumorsand they suggest that certain molecules present in these seeds could, with further research, become the basis for future complementary therapies for colorectal cancerAlthough these are still preclinical trials, the finding opens a promising line of research for Spain and Europe, where this tumor is among the most common.
An Andalusian team is behind the discovery
The research has been driven by a multidisciplinary team from the University of Granada (UGR) and the Institute of Biomedical Research (ibs.GRANADA), in collaboration with the Cellbitec Foundation, based in AlmerÃa. Groups from the following institutions participated in the project: Biomedical Research Centre of the University of Granada, the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology and the Joint University Institute of Sport and Health, integrating profiles of biomedicine, nutrition and plant biotechnology.
The new eggplant used, identified as variety S0506 (Solanum melongena L.)This line comes from breeding programs developed by the biotechnology group Beyond Seeds. It has been selected for certain agronomic characteristics and, above all, for its high content of bioactive compounds in the seeds, which have been the focus of the analysis carried out by the researchers.
The results of the work have been published in the scientific journal Food BioscienceThis allows other European and international teams to review the data and propose new trials. The support of a Public-private collaboration between the UGR and Cellbitec has been key to bringing to the laboratory an idea that originates from the field of innovative plant crops.
What exactly has been analyzed in the seeds
Scientists have focused on a extract obtained from ripe and defatted seeds from the S0506 eggplant. Through advanced analytical techniques in chemistry and molecular biology, the team has been able to characterize in detail the composition of these extracts and to determine which molecules might be behind the antitumor activity observed in the trials.
Among the compounds identified, the presence of a notable concentration of flavonoids and polyphenolsSubstances to which various biological properties are attributed. Specifically, significant levels of kaempferol, quercetin and protodiosin, three bioactive molecules whose potential effects against different types of cancer cells were already known in previous studies.
This chemical profile suggests that the combination of several compounds in the extract It could be acting together, which is known as a synergistic effect. Therefore, it wouldn't be a single "miracle molecule," but rather a combination of substances that, in certain proportions, They manage to interfere with key processes for the survival of tumor cells.
How they act against colon cancer cells
In laboratory tests, extracts from the eggplant seed S0506 have been applied to Human and murine colorectal cancer cell linesResearchers have observed a strong antiproliferative effect even at low concentrationsThat is, tumor cells reduce their ability to grow and divide when exposed to these compounds.
Subsequent analyses have shown that this effect is related to the activation of pathways that trigger apoptosis, a mechanism of programmed cell death, and autophagy, another process by which cells can self-destruct when they malfunction. In addition, a alteration of the cytoskeleton of cancer cells, the internal structure that helps maintain its shape and facilitates its division.
One particularly relevant aspect of the study is that the extracts not only affect the most differentiated tumor cells, but also the cancer stem cellsThese cells are considered responsible for resistance to certain drugs and relapses after treatment. The fact that these more aggressive cells are sensitive to the extract This could explain the reduction in tumor size observed in animals and the possible reduction in the risk of recurrence in experimental models.
In parallel, the researchers have assessed the impact of the extracts on healthy cells, observing a zero or very low toxicity profile compared to its effect on malignant cells. This difference in sensitivity is key for any future development, since one of the major challenges in oncology is to attack the tumor without causing excessive damage to healthy tissue.
Results in animal models and preclinical phase
Following initial trials in cell cultures, the project has progressed towards a preclinical phase in animalsThis is an essential preliminary step before designing human studies. In these models, colon tumors have been induced in mice to evaluate whether treatment with eggplant seed extracts S0506 It manages to modify the evolution of the disease..
According to the published data, the administration of these extracts has achieved a very significant decrease in tumor volume compared to the control groups that did not receive the treatment. This antitumor effect is complemented by a marked reduction in the angiogenesis, the process by which tumors generate new blood vessels to supply themselves with nutrients and oxygen.
By limiting the formation of these vessels, the researchers point out that it makes it more difficult to... expansion and maintenance of the tumor massThis could translate into a reduced capacity for growth and dissemination. Again, this data comes from a highly controlled experimental setting, but it reinforce the pharmacological interest of these eggplant seeds as a source of new compounds.
The authors of the study insist on the need to continue to advance with new trials at the molecular and pharmacological level to address fundamental questions: what doses are safe, what form of administration would be most effective, and how these extracts could be combined with standard treatments such as chemotherapy or targeted therapies.
A possible complement to future cancer treatments
The research team emphasizes that these results should not be interpreted as an invitation to Self-medicating with eggplant should not be used to replace established cancer treatments.The work focuses on very specific extracts, obtained and standardized in the laboratory, which have nothing to do with the everyday consumption of the vegetable in the diet.
The goal, according to those in charge of the project, would be that, after the long process of scientific and regulatory validation, some of these molecules could be incorporated in the future into complementary therapiesThese could be used alongside existing treatments to improve tumor response, reduce the likelihood of relapse, or moderate certain side effects, always under medical supervision.
In the European context, where the research on plant-based compounds This type of work has been gaining ground for years; it fits with the search for new less aggressive and more targeted strategiesThe close collaboration between universities, health centers and biotechnology companies is making it possible to identify ingredients of interest in common foods from the Mediterranean environment.
Colon cancer in Spain and the relevance of the finding
Colorectal cancer remains one of the tumors with the highest incidence in Spain and in Europe as a wholeData from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries estimate that, in our country alone, Around 44.000 new cases are diagnosed each year of colon and rectal cancer.
Despite advances in early detection and treatment, this disease continues to cause more than 15.000 deaths annually In Spain, although mortality has decreased significantly in the last two decades thanks, in part, to screening programs and improvements in available therapies. In this scenario, any new tool that helps slow the progression of the disease or prevent relapses It takes on special interest.
Andalusian researchers point out that there is still a a long road lies ahead before these compounds can be translated into clinical practiceHowever, the fact that these molecules are present in a vegetable widely consumed in the Mediterranean basin is suggestive from the point of view of public health and agri-food innovation.
This project illustrates how the combination of plant biotechnology and oncology It can open unexpected doors: from a specific variety of eggplant, cultivated in greenhouses and laboratories in Andalusia, extracts have emerged with the capacity to limit tumor growth in experimental models and to act on cancerous stem cells with reduced toxicity to healthy cells. Pending further studies, this work adds to the growing body of evidence that the plant world continues to hold remarkable potential as a source of new tools against cancer.
