Indonesian Researchers Find That Phytochemicals from Garcinia Fruit Are Able to Destroy Liver Cancer Cells
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 19, 2026 1 hour, 55 minutes ago
Medical News: Natural compounds show powerful anti-cancer potential
Scientists are increasingly turning to natural plant compounds in the search for safer and more effective cancer treatments, and new research by Indonesian researchers from Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya-Indonesia is highlighting the remarkable potential of phytochemicals found in the Garcinia fruit (Garcinia dulcis). These tropical fruits, commonly grown across Southeast Asia including Thailand, contain bioactive compounds called Xanthophylls that have demonstrated the ability to directly destroy liver cancer cells in laboratory studies.
Study finds that phytochemicals from the Garcinia fruit could be used to aid in liver cancer treatment
Liver cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinoma, remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, liver cancer is among the leading causes of cancer deaths globally, largely because it is often diagnosed late and current treatments can be limited in effectiveness. This has driven urgent interest in identifying new compounds that can target cancer cells more precisely while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Garcinia phytochemicals trigger cancer cell death
The Garcinia fruit contains several powerful phytochemicals, including garcinol, xanthones, and flavonoids. Researchers found that these compounds can trigger a process known as apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in liver cancer cells. Apoptosis is a natural defense mechanism of the body, but cancer cells often develop ways to avoid it. Garcinia compounds appear to reactivate this process, forcing cancer cells to self-destruct.
In controlled laboratory experiments, these phytochemicals disrupted critical internal systems within liver cancer cells. They damaged the mitochondria, which are the energy-producing structures of the cell, and triggered the release of signals that lead to cellular collapse. This
Medical News report also highlights that Garcinia-derived compounds increased oxidative stress inside cancer cells, creating an environment that cancer cells could not survive.
Importantly, researchers observed that these phytochemicals appeared to selectively target cancer cells while leaving normal healthy cells largely unaffected. This selectivity is essential for future cancer therapies because conventional chemotherapy often harms healthy cells, leading to severe side effects.
Blocking tumor growth and spread
Beyond directly killing cancer cells, Garcinia phytochemicals also interfered with other critical cancer processes. Scientists found that these compounds slowed the division and reproduction of liver cancer cells, effectively reducing tumor growth potential.
Additionally, Garcinia compounds were shown to inhibit angiogenesis, the process by which tumors create new blood vessels to supply themselves with nutrients and oxygen. Without this blood supply, tumors struggle to grow and spread.
Some Garcinia phytochemicals also b
locked key signaling pathways that cancer cells use to survive, multiply, and invade surrounding tissues.
These multi-target effects are especially important because cancer is a complex disease driven by many biological mechanisms. Compounds that attack cancer on multiple fronts are considered highly promising for future drug development.
Potential pathway to safer cancer treatments
The findings suggest that Garcinia phytochemicals could serve as the foundation for developing new anticancer drugs, particularly for liver cancer patients who have limited treatment options. Researchers believe these compounds could eventually be used alone or in combination with existing therapies to improve outcomes.
Scientists caution, however, that while laboratory results are highly encouraging, further research including animal studies and human clinical trials is needed to confirm safety and effectiveness. Natural compounds often behave differently inside the human body compared to laboratory conditions, and proper testing is essential before clinical use.
Growing importance of plant-based cancer research
The discovery adds to a growing body of evidence that plant-derived compounds may play a key role in future cancer treatment strategies. Many modern cancer drugs have originated from natural sources, and Garcinia phytochemicals may represent another important addition to this list.
With liver cancer rates continuing to rise globally, particularly across Asia, discoveries like these offer new hope for safer and more targeted therapies. Researchers remain optimistic that continued investigation into Garcinia and similar medicinal plants could eventually lead to breakthrough treatments capable of significantly improving survival and quality of life for liver cancer patients.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nutrients.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/4/670
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Medical Disclaimer: All content published by Thailand Medical News is based on scientific research and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Readers must not attempt to use, apply, or experiment with any protocols, compounds, or therapies mentioned without first consulting a qualified and licensed medical doctor. Many findings discussed are experimental or preliminary, and only a licensed healthcare professional can determine what is safe and appropriate for an individual’s specific medical condition.
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