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# Wasabi may help colon cancer
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/wasabi_may_help_colon_cancer_1011161038/
- Published: 2016-10-11T13:37:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:47:30.000Z
- Description: The study reports that Wasabia japonica extract activates TNF-alpha, Fas-L, caspases, truncated Bid and cytochrome C, triggering apoptosis and autophagy in colon cancer cells, and slowed tumor growth in an animal test.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

[*Hsuan, S., Chyau, C., Hung, H. et al. The induction of apoptosis and autophagy by Wasabia japonica extract in colon cancer, European Journal of Nutrition, March 2016, Volume 55, Issue 2, pp 491–503*](http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-015-0866-5?ref=foodconsumer.org)

Previous studies have indicated that [wasabi ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasabi?ref=foodconsumer.org)or Wasabia Japonica can help detoxification, anti-inflammation and apoptosis of cancer cells. A new study now confirms that wasabi may be used to treat colon cancer. 

The study shows that wasabi activates TNF-α, Fas-L, caspases, truncated Bid and cytochrome C and induces apoptosis and autophagy.

An in vivo experiment shows that wasabi can slow the growth of cancer tumor.

The study concludes that wasabi may be used as a chemo-preventative against the development of colon cancer or treat the disease. 

**Some background about wasabi:**

Wasabi contains some taste-bearing compounds like methylthioalkyl [isothiocyanates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isothiocyanate?ref=foodconsumer.org) which are known to inhibit microbal growth. This antimicrobial property suggests that this food could be potentially used to fight cancer. Studies of other food ingredients suggests that a compound that inhibits the growth of microbes, particularly fungus may also inhibit cancer growth.

In fact, isotiocyanates are known to [inhibit ](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304383597046399?ref=foodconsumer.org)the growth of lung cancer and esophageal cancer. In rodents, isothiocynates are known to [prevent ](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0304383593902374?ref=foodconsumer.org)the develop of chemically induced cancer.

Isothiocyanates are also found in foods like [cabbages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabbage?ref=foodconsumer.org), [horseradish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseradish?ref=foodconsumer.org), and [mustard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard%5Fplant?ref=foodconsumer.org), which have already known to have a chemopreventative effect against cancer. (David Liu)