Previous studies have indicated that wasabi 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 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 the growth of lung cancer and esophageal cancer. In rodents, isothiocynates are known to prevent the develop of chemically induced cancer.
Isothiocyanates are also found in foods like cabbages, horseradish, and mustard, which have already known to have a chemopreventative effect against cancer. (David Liu)
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