Scientists document the anti-cancer properties of the Allium wallichii

Allium wallichii (AW), a plant used as a spice and natural treatment in Nepal, has been cited as a potential anti-cancer treatment. A study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine uncovers the plant’s phytochemical, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties.

• The researchers obtained an aqueous ethanol extract of AW which they put through several tests to determine its phytochemical content, antioxidant capabilities, and cytotoxic effects.
• They tested AW’s anti-cancer properties against three cancer cell lines: PC3 (prostate cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer), and HeLa (cervical cancer). For the cell viability assay, they used the cell line for Burkitt’s lymphoma (B-Lymphoma).
• They found that the plant contained steroids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. The aqueous extract demonstrated moderate antioxidant and antibacterial properties, as well as moderate abilities to fight all cancer cell lines.
• The researchers believe that the plant’s moderate cancer-fighting abilities had to do with the use of extracts from the entire plant. Further study, but one that uses isolated compounds from the plant, could yield more positive results.

The outcomes of the study led the researchers to conclude that AW could be used as a potential anti-cancer agent.

Find the full text of this study at this link.

For more stories on natural cancer treatments, go to AntiCancer.news.

Journal Reference:

Bhandari J, Muhammad B, Thapa P, Shrestha BG. STUDY OF PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTI-MICROBIAL, ANTI-OXIDANT, AND ANTI-CANCER PROPERTIES OF ALLIUM WALLICHII. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 8 February 2017;17(102). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1622-6