Onions are low-calorie foods high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. About them, we already knew that their value in the fight against depression but, now, a new study developed by scientists from the University of Kumamoto (Japan) has discovered that a compound found in onions has anticancer effects with respect to cancer of ovary.
According to a 2014 study by the World Health Organization (WHO), epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common of the ovarian cancers where the 5-year relative survival is approximately 40% . Furthermore, 80% of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer relapse after initial chemotherapy treatment.
The researchers examined the effects that a natural compound in onions, onionin A, had on this type of ovarian cancer. After examining the effects of onionin A in a preclinical model of epithelial ovarian cancer cells, they found that the growth of malignant cells had slowed. And it is that this compound of the onion inhibited the activities of pro-tumor macrophages, cells that help certain tumors to develop, protecting them. In short, onionin A directly attacked the defense of the tumor.
As if this were not enough, onionin A also improved the effects of anticancer drugs by increasing their barrier capacity in the body . Thus, in an experiment with oral doses of this compound in mice, the scientists observed that the rodents had a longer life and showed a reduction in the development of ovarian cancer tumors. There were no side effects.
“ Based on our findings, the compound onianin A is considered useful for further treatment of ovarian cancer patients due to its suppressing value of pro-tumor activation of [tumor-associated] macrophages and direct cytotoxicity against cancer cells. ”, Explain the authors of the work that has been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
