Posted on 07/25/2025 5:47:42 AM PDT by Red Badger
Researchers at Hiroshima University have found that stevia, when fermented with specific bacteria from banana leaves, gains a remarkable ability to kill pancreatic cancer cells while leaving healthy kidney cells unharmed.
This transformation enhances the plant’s natural properties through microbial biotransformation, creating a potent compound called chlorogenic acid methyl ester (CAME). The fermented stevia extract showed significant cancer-fighting potential in lab tests and may represent a new direction in probiotic-based cancer therapies.
Stevia’s Surprising Anti-Cancer Potential Stevia might offer more than just a no-calorie alternative to sugar. Scientists at Hiroshima University found that when stevia extract is fermented using bacteria sourced from banana leaves, it becomes capable of killing pancreatic cancer cells without damaging healthy kidney cells.
The results of their study were published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
“Globally, the incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer continue to rise, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10%,” said co-author Narandalai Danshiitsoodol, associate professor in Department of Probiotic Science for Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences.
“Pancreatic cancer is highly invasive and prone to metastasis, showing significant resistance to existing treatments, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. As such, there is an urgent need to identify new and effective anticancer compounds, particularly those derived from medicinal plants.”
Stevia Leaf Extract Anticancer Treatment - The overall mechanism for the induction of apoptosis in PANC-1 cells by stevia leaf extract fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T strain. Credit: Zhang Rentao/Hiroshima University
Fermentation Unlocks Bioactive Compounds
Earlier research had suggested that stevia leaf extract could help fight cancer, but pinpointing and isolating the specific active compounds has proven difficult. Danshiitsoodol explained that fermentation can alter the structure of stevia extract, leading to the creation of new bioactive metabolites. These are compounds that can influence biological systems.
“To enhance the pharmacological efficacy of natural plant extracts, microbial biotransformation has emerged as an effective strategy,” said corresponding author Masanori Sugiyama, professor in the Department of Probiotic Science for Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences.
Sugiyama’s lab has isolated and evaluated the health benefits of more than 1,300 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains from fruits, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal plants. “In this study, we aimed to compare LAB-fermented and non-fermented extracts to identify key compounds that enhance bioactivity, ultimately contributing to the efficacy of herbal medicine in cancer prevention and therapy.”
Fermented Stevia Extract Targets Cancer Cells
Specifically, the team fermented stevia leaf extract with plant-derived Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T strain (FSLE) and compared its effects on pancreatic cancer (PANC-1) cells in the lab, alongside non-cancerous human embryonic kidney cells HEK-293, to the effects of non-fermented stevia extract. The cells utilized in these experiments were acquired from established commercial cell lines.
“Our findings indicate that FSLE demonstrates significantly greater cytotoxicity than the non-fermented extract at equivalent concentrations, suggesting that the fermentation process enhances the bioactivity of the extract,” Sugiyama said. “Notably, FSLE exhibited lower toxicity toward the HEK-293 cells, with minimal inhibition observed even at the highest concentration tested.”
Discovery of a Powerful Cancer-Fighting Molecule Additional analyses identified chlorogenic acid methyl ester (CAME) as the active anti-cancer compound. When fermented, the concentration of chlorogenic acid in the extract dropped six-fold, indicating a microbial transformation, according to Danshiitsoodol.
“This microbial transformation was likely due to specific enzymes in the bacteria strain used,” Danshiitsoodol said. “Our data demonstrate that CAME exhibits stronger toxicity to cells and pro-apoptotic effects — which encourage cell death — on PANC-1 cells compared to chlorogenic acid alone.”
Paving the Way for Future Animal Studies
Next, the researchers said they plan to study the effects in a mouse model to better understand the effectiveness of various dosages across a whole-body system.
“The present study has substantially enhanced our understanding of the mechanism of action of the Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T strain in the fermentation of herbal extracts, while also offering a valuable research perspective on the potential application of probiotics as natural anti-tumor agents,” Danshiitsoodol said.
Reference:
“Stevia Leaf Extract Fermented with Plant-Derived Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T Displays Anticancer Activity to Pancreatic Cancer PANC-1 Cell Line”
by Rentao Zhang, Narandalai Danshiitsoodol, Masafumi Noda, Sayaka Yonezawa, Keishi Kanno and Masanori Sugiyama, 27 April 2025, International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
DOI: 10.3390/ijms26094186
Other contributors include Rentao Zhang and Masafumi Noda, Department of Probiotic Science for Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University; and Sayaka Yonezawa and Keishi Kanno, Department of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital.
Supercharged sugar? What a great time to be alive!
And when they’ll start trying to do so.
Good question!
I am convinced that the LORD has put on the earth, every cure for disease.
Lots of compounds or physical conditions(heat, acid/base changes) kill cancer cells outside of the body. Hopefully, this discovery will help. Got a long way to go before this compound is ascertained to be efficacious in real cancer patients.
Thanks...
I’ve seen it. 40 years of this... I’ve seen it all
I gave up on doctors or I’d have been dead a decade ago.
Most of my problems came from doctors
I’m allergic. Begins by setting my mouth on fire. My early detection warning system I guess. I’m allergic to honey too. I like breathing, so I stay away from both of them. But very happy about the cancer discovery.
“I had a doctor.........bvut he died.........” - George Burns, age 100...............
.
I posted this article a few days ago.
Here is an excellent comprehensive article on Stevia. I’ve been researching it to the nth degree, trying to find out exactly why the FDA only approves the use of extract and not pure stevia use in foods.
Review article:
NATURAL SWEETENER STEVIA REBAUDIANA:
FUNCTIONALITIES, HEALTH BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL RISKS
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8600158/pdf/EXCLI-20-1412.pdf
or non-pdf.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8600158/
Abstract
Stevia rebaudiana is a South American plant, the cultivation of which is increasing worldwide due to its high content of sweet compounds. Stevia sweetness is mainly due to steviol glycosides, that are ~250-300 times sweeter than sucrose. Many studies have suggested the benefits of Stevia extract over sugar and artificial sweeteners, but it is still not a very popular sugar substitute.
This review summarizes current data on the biological activities of S. rebaudiana extract and its individual glycosides, including anti-hypertensive, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects and improvement of kidney function. Possible side effects and toxicity of Stevia extract are also discussed.
You never know when Stevia is going to be tainted with Ricin.
“...FDA only approves the use of extract and not pure stevia use in foods.”
You can grow stevia in your garden. Extract requires a process. Like a factory. Follow the money....................
Stevioside – Cheap extracts sold in stores are typically made up of pure stevioside. It has the strongest aftertaste — a characteristic bitter, licorice-like note. For instance, as I write this, Purisure costs $4.50 per ounce on Amazon. It’s about 60x sweeter than sugar, which means 140mg of this stevioside is as sweet as 2 tsp sugar (8 grams). So, it’s much less sweet than the other extracts below, and you’ll need to use more.
Rebaudioside A (reb A or rebiana) – A step up from stevioside with a better taste but still a noticeable bitter and licorice-like aftertaste. It’s the most commonly used, being 250 to 450 times sweeter than table sugar. As an example, Pyure costs $11 per ounce. This is 320x sweeter than sugar, which means that just 25mg sweetens like 2 tsp of sugar (8g).
Full-spectrum extracts – These retain the complete range of steviosides and rebaudiosides inherent within the leaf (including reb M and reb D). They taste better but still have some aftertaste. They cost about the same as pure reb A. Examples include BetterStevia, which at the moment costs $9.32 per ounce, SweetLeaf $11, and NuNaturals $14. Those are 160x to 115x sweeter than sugar, which means that just 50 to 70mg sweetens like 2 tsp of sugar (8g).
Pure reb M and pure reb D – These are the best-tasting extracts and 250 to 450x sweeter than sugar.
Here in North Carolina it is being planted large scale by tobacco farmers as the planting and harvesting equipment is similar.
Real good article: Stevia Production in North Carolina
Prepared by David Shew, Department of Plant Pathology, NCSU
https://cefs.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Stevia-FAQ.pdf?x68591
also: Stevia Production in NC
— Written By Molly Hamilton
https://organiccommodities.ces.ncsu.edu/2013/03/stevia-production-in-nc/
I have about a hundred plants and I’m experimenting with it.
Right now I harvest it early in the morning and place it in my commercial freeze dryer. After about 24 hrs it crumbles to the touch. I haven’t bothered to powder it. I just put it in a gallon zip lock bag and crush it.
Nice thing about it, you cut it back to about 4to 6 inches to harvest it and you can get several cuttings per year.
It’s perennial here in NC, so last years plants came up early and strong. But very thick plants so I am separating them.
This morning I was reading the recipe for making beer from quinoa. It’s gluten free. Think I’ll make a 7 gallon batch to try it out.
Quinoa beer
https://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/view/1570235/quinoa-beer
Oat beer should be gluten free.........
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