‘Often discarded’ vegetable could be ‘powerful’ tool to slow cancer gr

Sweet potatoes might just be the next big thing in cancer treatment, according to a new American study.

Published in the BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies journal, the study suggests that the typically discarded parts of sweet potatoes, like the peel, flesh, stems, stalks, and leaves, may have potent cancer-fighting properties.

These often discarded parts of the sweet potato are packed with nutritious substances, like bioactive flavonoids,known for their antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiulcer, and immunostimulant impact.

The investigation, conducted by Tennessee State University, exploared how various parts of the sweet potato effected human breast and lung cancer cells, revealing some remarkable effects.

The research showed that an all-purple sweet potato leaves extract was particularly effective against breast cancer cells.

Whereas a combination of leaves and stem extracts from Carolina Ruby sweet potatoes had a more significant effect on lung cancer cells.

Both types of extracts “significantly inhibited” the viability of cancer cells, or how many cancerous cells survived. 

In some instances, the potato extracts were comparably effective, or even more so, than the commonly used breast cancer medication, tamoxifen. These finding suggest the possibility of using sweet potatoes as a natural adjunctive treatment for cancer.

Nonetheless, the team of researchers have called for further studies to properly explore how sweet potatoes might be used in cancer treatment. 

The health perks linked to sweet potatoes are not exactly a recent discovery. Past research has underlined that extracts from the leaves of sweet potatoes may aid in reducing the risk of various health issues such as allergies, heart problems, cataracts, and even cancer.

While most earlier research centred on the root of the sweet potato – which is the part we typically eat – it’s worth noting that the entire plant has been utilised in folk medicine for ages.

News Medical professionals have made observations stating: “Overall, the study findings emphasize the importance of incorporating sweet potato leaves and stems into regular diets. Not only for their nutritional benefits but also for their potential role in cancer prevention.”