The key facts

  • Nuciferine from lotus leaves (Nelumbo nucifera) slowed the growth of bladder tumors in mice.
  • Tumor tissue showed an increased number of cells undergoing apoptosis and a reduced number of actively dividing cells.
  • The results are published in Frontiers in Nutrition; effectiveness has been confirmed only in preclinical experiments.

Natural compound showed antitumor activity

Chinese scientists have found that nuciferine — a biologically active compound extracted from the leaves of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) — can suppress the growth of bladder tumors. The results of the study are published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.

Experiments on mice

Nuciferine had previously been noted to have various beneficial properties, including potential antitumor activity, but its effect on bladder cancer had not been studied in detail. To test its effectiveness, specialists conducted experiments on mice with tumors formed from bladder cancer cells. After nuciferine was administered, the growth of the tumors slowed.

Possible mechanism of action

Additional analysis showed that the number of cells entering apoptosis — programmed cell death — increased in the tumor tissue. “This mechanism allows the body to get rid of damaged or unneeded cells. At the same time, the number of cells actively involved in tumor proliferation decreased,” the scientists said.

Limitations and prospects

The authors believe the results open up prospects for further study of nuciferine as a basis for antitumor drugs. However, the compound's effectiveness has so far been confirmed only in a preclinical experiment on animals.