Royal fern extract has a growth-inhibiting effect on head and neck carcinomas

Researchers have found that royal fern (Osmunda regalis) may serve as a safe, natural, and effective agent against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The study is published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• Several mechanisms of royal fern were analyzed:
  • Proliferation inhibition was measured with the MTT assay;
  • Invasion inhibition was tested in a spheroid-based 3D migration assay;
  • Gene expression changes were analyzed by qRT-PCR assay;
  • Induction of apoptosis was measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS); and
  • Anti-angiogenetic activity was determined by the tube formation assay.
• The plant extract was likewise analyzed by preliminary phytochemical tests, liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC-MS), and thin layer chromatography (TLC).
• Royal fern extract was observed to have a significant inhibiting effect on the growth of HNSCC.
• Further, it was observed that the plant triggered apoptosis in HNSCC cell lines and inhibited tube formation of endothelial cells.

A botanical examination of royal fern revealed various compounds in the plant that work together to stunt the growth of HNSCC.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Royal fern is not the only natural medicine for cancer. Learn more about natural substances that can remedy this deadly disease at CancerSolutions.news.

Journal Reference:

Schmidt M, Skaf J, Gavril G, Polednik C, Roller J, Kessler M, Holzgrabe U. THE INFLUENCE OF OSMUNDA REGALIS ROOT EXTRACT ON HEAD AND NECK CANCER CELL PROLIFERATION, INVASION AND GENE EXPRESSION. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 4 December 2017; 17(518); DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-2009-4