Study Finds Rice Bran Nanoparticles Demonstrate Powerful Anti-Cancer Activity
Preliminary research suggests that rice bran nanoparticles could provide a safe, effective, and affordable cancer treatment in the future.
While the researchers described the anti-cancer effect as “strong,” clinical trials are necessary to determine if they have a similar benefit in humans.
Promising Findings
Rice bran is a by-product of the rice-milling process. Although most of it is discarded during manufacturing, it contains nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, proteins, and essential fatty acids. It is also a source of compounds with anti-cancer properties, such as γ-oryzanol, γ-tocotrienol, and tricin. Nanoparticles are tiny particles used to deliver a substance to tissues.
The JN study, conducted in Japan, hypothesized that rbNPs may have substantial therapeutic value for cancer treatment.
After researchers injected rbNPs into mice that had been given a cancer called colon26, they observed that cell division stopped and apoptosis (cell death) started, which indicated potent anti-cancer effects. Expression of proteins, such as β-catenin—involved in cell proliferation, and cyclin D1—involved in cancer metastasis, also reduced.
The JN study reported that the anti-cancer activity of rbNPs exceeded that of other plant-derived nanoparticles (pdNPs), specifically those from grapes, ginger, and lemon. While ginger and lemon significantly decreased the number of colon26 cells at high concentrations, rbNPs produced the greatest decrease in colon26 cells at all concentrations.
A notable part of the JN study involved comparison of the anti-cancer activity of rbNPs to the nanoparticle cancer medication Doxil, a brand of the generic drug doxorubicin. The rbNPs proved superior at reducing the number of cancer cells.
Potential Advantages Over Conventional Cancer Treatment
Safety
An important advantage is safety, as conventional treatment options destroy healthy cells as well as cancer cells. In the advanced stages of cancer, tissue loss can be very large and even cause death. The fact that rbNPs did not have this effect in mice is a distinct advantage.
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When the study compared the safety of doxorubicin with rbNPs, the former was toxic to both cancerous and noncancerous cells, but the latter was toxic only to the cancerous cells. This indicated that rbNPs were safer than doxorubicin in mice. Additionally, in contrast with possible side effects of doxorubicin, including heart damage, the rbNPs produced no side effects in mice.
Affordability
Because rbNPs can be produced at low cost, they are very affordable, a benefit rarely linked to cancer treatment.
How Nanotechnology Makes Natural Compounds Therapeutic
Bioavailability
In more recent years, some pharmaceutical companies have investigated the use of plant-derived compounds to treat disease, but one of the biggest hurdles they have encountered is low bioavailability. Nanoparticles increase bioavailability in several ways, noted a 2020 study in the journal Open Medicine.
Part of this benefit is due to the very small particle size. “Nanoparticles are tiny particles, typically ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers in size,” nutritionist Lisa Richards told The Epoch Times in an email. “To put that into perspective, a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.”
However, the study pointed out that tiny size is only one of the factors responsible for the increased bioavailability. The benefit also stems from unique properties that natural compounds can acquire when on a nanoscale, which include boosted solubility and improved permeation through biological barriers.
Targeted Delivery
“Nanoparticles can be engineered to target specific tissues or cells in the body, allowing for precise delivery of nutrients to where they are needed most. This targeted delivery can reduce potential side effects and improve the efficacy of the nutrients,” continued Ms. Richards.
Stability
As with any pharmaceutical, physiochemical properties relating to stability are necessary. Ms. Richards added that nutrients encapsulated in nanoparticles are often more stable than their free counterparts, meaning they are less likely to degrade over time or in harsh conditions. This prolongs the shelf life of the nutrients and ensures they remain effective until they reach their intended destination in the body.
Side Effects
The NJ study noted that the rbNPs significantly inhibited tumor growth without any appreciable side effects. However, clinical trials are necessary to determine if they would be well tolerated in humans.
That said, the 2020 study stated that pdNPs tend to have fewer side effects than medications.
Might This Revolutionize Cancer Treatment?
Because the NJ study is so promising, it may raise the question, “Could the discovery be a breakthrough in cancer treatment?” Experts caution that it is far too early to characterize it in this way.
The press release cautions that safety and effectiveness need to be established in human clinical trials. Assessment of some production-related parameters are also necessary before rbNPs are available on the market for cancer treatment.
Dr. Wael Harb, board-certified medical oncologist at Memorial Care Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, concurred. “The study on mice is interesting but it takes much work in human research to translate this into the clinic,” he told The Epoch Times. “After phase I and II clinical trials, it would require a phase III trial comparing it to Doxil or other standard treatments.”
If rbNPs prove to have an anti-cancer benefit in humans, researchers would have to look at whether it is meaningful, Dr. Harb added. For example, if a new intervention kills 10 percent more cancer cells, would this translate to a person living longer or better? “It is much too soon to call it a breakthrough,” he said.
