Oral administration of fermented papaya controls the growth of a murine melanoma. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Oral Administration of Fermented Papaya (FPP) Controls the Growth of a Murine Melanoma through the In Vivo Induction of a Natural Antioxidant Response.
Cancers (Basel). 2019 Jan 20 ;11(1). Epub 2019 Jan 20. PMID: 30669508
Mariantonia Logozzi
Prolonged oxidative stress may play a key role in tumor development. Antioxidant molecules are contained in many foods and seem to have a potential role in future anti-tumor strategies. Among the natural antioxidants the beneficial effect of Fermented Papaya (FPP) is well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of orally administered FPPin either the prevention or treatment of a murine model of melanoma. The tumor growth was analyzed together with the blood levels of both oxidants (ROS) and anti-oxidants (SOD-1 and GSH). The results showed that FPPcontrolled tumor growth, reducing the tumor mass of about three to seven times vs. untreated mice. The most significant effect was obtained with sublingual administration of FPPclose to the inoculation of melanoma. At the time of the sacrifice none of mice treated with FPPhad metastases and the subcutaneous tumors were significantly smaller and amelanotic, compared to untreated mice. Moreover, the FPPanti-tumor effect was consistent with the decrease of total ROS levels and the increase in the blood levels of GSH and SOD-1. This study shows that a potent anti-oxidant treatment through FPPmay contribute to both preventing and inhibiting tumors growth.