Researchers at Hiroshima University have discovered that stevia leaf extract can kill pancreatic cancer cells while sparing healthy kidney cells when fermented with bacteria isolated from banana leaves. The study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, suggests that this fermentation process enhances the bioactivity of the extract and produces compounds that can impact living organisms.
The incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer continue to rise globally, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10%. Current treatments for pancreatic cancer are often ineffective, making it essential to identify new and effective anticancer compounds. Stevia leaf extract has been previously studied as an anticancer agent, but isolating the specific bioactive components that protect against cancer cells has remained challenging.
To overcome this challenge, researchers fermented stevia leaf extract with a plant-derived bacteria strain (Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T) and compared its effects on pancreatic cancer cells to non-fermented extracts. The results showed that the fermented extract demonstrated significantly greater cytotoxicity against pancreatic cancer cells than the non-fermented extract, while sparing healthy kidney cells.
The researchers identified chlorogenic acid methyl ester (CAME) as the active anti-cancer compound in the fermented extract. This compound exhibited stronger toxicity to pancreatic cancer cells and pro-apoptotic effects, which encourage cell death, compared to chlorogenic acid alone.
Further studies will be conducted on mouse models to better understand the effectiveness of various dosages across a whole-body system. The researchers hope that their findings will contribute to the development of effective herbal medicine in cancer prevention and therapy.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-stevia-leaf-potential-anticancer-treatment.html