Overview

• Hiroshima University scientists fermented stevia leaf extract with Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T to enhance its anticancer potential
• Chemical analysis pinpointed chlorogenic acid methyl ester as the key metabolite driving apoptosis in PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells
• In vitro tests showed that the fermented extract killed pancreatic cancer cells more effectively than non-fermented stevia at equivalent concentrations
• Human embryonic kidney cells remained largely unharmed by the fermented extract, indicating selective toxicity toward cancer cells
• The team will advance to mouse model experiments to assess systemic efficacy and determine optimal dosing in vivo