An estimated 165,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer each year, averaging over 450 new cases daily. While the right treatment for each person largely depends on the type of cancer and its stage, doctors repeatedly stress that lifestyle choices can also help to support conventional treatments like chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Now, new research suggests that a plant-based compound called sulfuretin may be able to stop the progression of cancer—it’s just unclear what that means for future treatments.
Research on this is in its infancy, but the findings are raising a lot of questions about the potential future use of sulfuretin for cancer treatment.
Here’s what the study found, plus what doctors want you to keep in mind.
What did the study find?
A study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry investigated the effects of sulfuretin, a plant-derived flavonoid, on certain cells in a lab setting. Researchers found that sulfuretin, along with two synthetic compounds, inhibited the activity of an enzyme called hyaluronidase—specifically, the cell migration-inducing and hyaluronan-binding protein (CEMIP). CEMIP has been linked to the progression of some cancers as well as multiple sclerosis (MS).
Hyaluronidase plays a role in breaking down hyaluronic acid, a substance that supports healthy cell function. Its degradation can lead to damage in myelin-producing cells, which form the protective sheath around nerve cells. This process is associated with neurodegenerative conditions such as MS, stroke and certain forms of dementia and also enables the spread of cancer cells.
The researchers concluded that sulfuretin has the potential to be explored as a treatment for serious diseases, including cancer and MS. However, they emphasised that further studies are needed before clinical applications can be considered.
What is sulfuretin?
Sulfuretin is a type of flavonoid—a class of naturally occurring plant compounds with antioxidant properties. “Sulfuretin is commonly found in yellow plants and flowers,” explains professor of pharmacology and toxicology Jamie Alan. Some of the plants that contain sulfuretin include:
- Rhus verniciflua – also known as the Chinese lacquer tree
- Dahlia – a vibrant flowering plant
- Bidens tripartita – a plant from the sunflower family
- Dipteryx lacunifera – a tall, flowering tree
Sulfuretin has been researched for its potential role in managing various health conditions, including inflammation and leukaemia. “The flavonoid has previously been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are important mechanisms in cancer prevention,” says registered dietitian Nagi B. Kumar.
However, despite its promising benefits, sulfuretin is not currently available in commercial supplements or health products. “It’s not something you could pick up at your local chemist or supermarket,” Alan notes. Future research will be needed to determine how it might be developed into a viable treatment.
Why might sulfuretin help to stop the progression of cancer?
While it’s still too early to draw conclusions, researchers have identified some potential mechanisms behind sulfuretin’s effects on cancer progression.
The study found that sulfuretin, in combination with two synthetic compounds, altered the function of a protein within the extracellular matrix (ECM)—the supportive network surrounding a tumour. “The ECM itself is not part of the tumour, but it plays a key role in processes like cell growth, movement and migration, which contribute to tumour expansion and spread,” explains Alan.
By interfering with the ECM, sulfuretin may help slow tumour progression, the researchers suggest. However, this does not mean it is a guaranteed cancer treatment.
“It’s still unclear what impact CEMIP inhibitors will have in humans with advanced cancers,” says breast medical oncologist Sagar Sardesai. Most studies involving CEMIP inhibitors, including this one, have been conducted in lab settings and no animal studies have been done yet, he notes. “I wouldn’t conclude that sulfuretin can stop the progression of any human cancer at this time,” he adds.
How this factors into cancer treatment
It’s important to recognise that these findings are still in the very early stages. So far, sulfuretin has only been tested in cells in a lab, meaning it’s still far from being a viable treatment for cancer in humans.
“This means that the field has more work to do in preclinical testing,” Alan says. “At this point, there is no evidence that this compound can effectively treat cancer in humans, although this may change in the next decade or so.”
Alan also stresses: “There is no universally accepted plant-based compound that effectively treats cancer at this time.” However, researchers continue to explore plant-derived compounds for their potential role in cancer treatment.
“Our team works with several phytochemicals—or plant-derived compounds—including sulforaphane (from broccoli seeds), green tea catechins, isoflavones and lycopene—for cancer prevention and treatment,” says Kumar. “These flavanols show promise in cell and animal studies, as well as in early human trials.”
Molecular cancer epidemiologist Veronika Fedirko finds the latest findings “intriguing” and notes that many cancer treatments have originated from plants. “For example, the cancer drug irinotecan comes from the alkaloid camptothecin, which was first discovered in Camptotheca acuminata—also known as the Happy Tree, Cancer Tree or Tree of Life,” she says.
While sulfuretin’s potential is promising, further research—including animal studies and human clinical trials—will be needed before it can be considered as part of any standard cancer treatment.
What happens now?
While this study suggests that sulfuretin could have potential as a plant-based cancer treatment, it’s far from a certainty. Researchers have stated that their next step is to test sulfuretin in animal models to determine its effectiveness against cancer and multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as to identify any potential side effects.
It’s also important to understand that cancer treatments take years—if not decades—to develop before they reach patients. “The time between the initial discovery of a promising compound and its full development into a marketed drug can vary significantly, typically taking several decades and numerous studies,” says Fedirko.
For now, sulfuretin remains an exciting area of research, but not a proven treatment. “Preliminary findings from this research should not sway the public into making any changes when it comes to consuming sulfuretin-based foods or supplements to treat cancer,” says Sardesai.
Further studies—including clinical trials in humans—will be needed before sulfuretin can be considered a viable cancer treatment. Until then, experts continue to recommend evidence-based cancer prevention strategies, such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly and following recommended screening guidelines.
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