Coffee compound fights liver cancer in animal studies
Pérez AP, Peña FZ, Torres K, Simón L
Medicinal Plants
That afternoon cup of coffee contains chlorogenic acid, the same compound researchers are studying for its ability to kill liver cancer cells while protecting healthy liver tissue in animal models.
Scientists reviewed 21 studies on chlorogenic acid, a natural compound found in coffee beans and many plants, and found it can slow down liver tumor growth in lab and animal experiments. The compound seems to work by triggering cancer cell death and calming inflammation, and it even boosts how well some chemotherapy drugs work. The catch is that none of this has been tested in people yet, so there's still a long way to go before anyone knows if drinking coffee or taking supplements would have the same effect in humans.
Key Findings
21 studies included in the systematic review analyzing chlorogenic acid's effects on liver cancer
CGA inhibits tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via AMPK, ERK, and PTGS2/AKR1C3/GPX4 pathways
CGA enhances certain chemotherapy drugs' effectiveness but shows antagonistic effects when combined with radiotherapy
chevron_right Technical Summary
Chlorogenic acid, a compound abundant in coffee and many plants, shows promise in lab and animal studies for fighting liver cancer while also protecting liver tissue, though human trials haven't happened yet.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Anticancer, hepatoprotective, and mechanistic evidence of chlorogenic acid in liver cancer: A systematic review.
Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a dietary polyphenol abundant in coffee and plant-b...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Ancient Amazonian forests were planted and tended by Indigenous farmers
Forests and fruits we romanticize as wild — including many plants now in our kitchens and gardens — may exist in their current abundance precisely because an...
Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted, ground coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content, but decaffeinated coffee is also commercially available. There are also various coffee substitutes.