Acantus ilicifolius

A herb that widely grows in the Sunderbans in West Bengal may help cut the risk of liver cancer.

A team of researchers, led by Malay Chatterjee of Jadavpur University, has found that an extract of Harkach kanta — or Acantus ilicifolius, a plant commonly found in the mangroves on the east and west coasts of the Indian peninsula — could prevent genetic alterations in the liver that are normally associated with cancer.

Their studies using laboratory mice showed that an aqueous leaf extract of Acantus reduces animal tumour cells by a substantial 70 per cent. The tumour was chemically induced in the lab animals. The findings are reported in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

The plant, which is part of Indian folk medicine, has been in use for decades for treating rheumatism, paralysis, asthma and snakebite. “It is for the first time that a study indicates it may also help combat liver cancer,” Chatterjee told KnowHow.

Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world. About three-fourth of the global incidence of this disease is reported from Asian countries, including India. The tumour has a relatively high casualty rate as early diagnosis is often difficult.

Acantus launches a three-pronged fight against the liver tumour in its early stages, says Chatterjee. First, it keeps the runaway division of liver cells in check and, second, it keeps the day-to-day wear and tear of cells to a minimum, thus preventing the precipitation of major DNA damage that can trigger a tumour. Third, it attacks what medical scientists call neoplasia (abnormal cells that may or may not turn out to be malignant later) of the liver.

Besides, the extract also restores the red blood cell count and haemoglobin to normal levels and reduces the number of infected white blood cells to a minimum.

The results from this in vivo study are interesting and encouraging, the scientists feel. The next course of action would be to identify and isolate the active principles of the extract which induce a positive effect, says Chatterjee.