Scientists from Université de Montréal have discovered that a small fruit from the Amazon rainforest might help fight cancer.
The fruit is called camu-camu, and it has already been known for its health benefits, especially in helping with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Now, researchers have found that this berry might also make cancer treatments work better. The secret is a natural compound in the fruit called castalagin. This chemical is part of a group called polyphenols, which are known for helping to reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage.
What makes castalagin special is that it acts like a prebiotic. This means it helps healthy bacteria grow in the gut. A healthy gut is very important for the immune system, and the immune system is what helps the body fight off diseases, including cancer.
The scientists found that castalagin can improve how the body responds to cancer treatment—especially a kind of treatment called immunotherapy. Immunotherapy helps the immune system find and attack cancer cells.
One powerful form of this is called immune checkpoint inhibitors, or ICIs. These drugs have helped some cancer patients live much longer, but they only work for a small number of people.
One reason why ICIs don’t work for everyone may be because of the bacteria in the gut. If the gut microbiome—the mix of bacteria and other tiny organisms in the digestive system—is not healthy, then the immune system doesn’t work as well.
This is where castalagin could help. By improving the gut bacteria, it helps the immune system work better, which could make cancer treatments more effective.
In the study, scientists gave castalagin to mice with cancer. They found that it helped the
immune system respond to the cancer, even without other treatments. The results were promising, and now the researchers are planning a clinical trial to test castalagin in people.
The first human trial will include 45 patients who have either lung cancer or melanoma. They will take castalagin along with their usual immunotherapy. The goal is to see if this natural compound can help more people benefit from the treatment.
Camu-camu berries come from the Amazon and are full of vitamin C and antioxidants. People have used them for centuries for their health benefits. Now, this tiny fruit might play a big role in helping to fight cancer.
While it is still early, this study shows the exciting potential of combining natural products
with modern medicine. If castalagin proves to be effective in humans, it could become a powerful tool in cancer care, especially for patients who do not respond well to current treatments.
This discovery brings new hope and highlights the importance of looking to nature for answers to some of our toughest health challenges. The research was published in the journal Cancer Discovery and marks a hopeful step forward in the fight against cancer.
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