Health: ENEA research proves anti-cancer potential of hazelnuts

ENEA has conducted a study demonstrating the anti-cancer potential of active biomolecules contained in the extract of the traditional Viterbo hazelnut Tonda Gentile Romana (Corylus avellana L.). Published in the international journal “Natural Product Research”, the findings of the study pave the way for future therapeutic and prevention developments for liver cancer.

“Our study shows how hazelnut extract has the ability to kill tumor cells in vitro, promoting the restoration of normal liver tissue growth conditions” explained Barbara Benassi at the ENEA Biotechnology Division, who conducted the research with Maria Pierdomenico.

Recent scientific evidence identifies the change in the intracellular content of two small RNA molecules^[1] as one of the keys to understanding the anti-cancer properties of new pharmaceutical formulations for applications in the oncology field. “In diseased tissue – said Benassi – the intracellular level of the two microRNAs decreases compared to the healthy counterpart, causing neoplastic proliferation.

Bringing the two microRNAs back to normal levels is one of the possible strategies adopted by new drugs to reduce cancer progression; at the same time, keeping their intracellular integrity under control, preventing them from decreasing over the life of an individual, represents a possible strategy to prevent the progression into neoplasms”.

The ENEA study has shown that hazelnut extract can significantly stimulate the intracellular level of the two microRNA molecules in liver cancer cells, inhibiting their proliferation and causing their subsequent death in vitro. “The next step will be to identify the active biomolecules responsible for the cytotoxic effect against cancer cells, even if a preliminary in silico, i.e. computer study has identified some possible candidates. In particular some substances derived from caffeic acid and catechins, contained in great quantities in hazelnut extract, on which further investigations in more complex preclinical models in vitro and in vivo must be conducted to validate the potential efficacy of new formulations as innovative therapeutic adjuvants for liver cancer treatment”, concluded Benassi.

Barbara Benassi, ENEA - Biotechnologies Division,

[1] I microRNA-34b e microRNA-34c sono due piccole molecole di RNA che fanno parte della famiglia dei microRNA. I microRNA sono un tipo di RNA (acido ribonucleico) che svolgono un ruolo importante nella regolazione dell’espressione genica all’interno delle cellule. In particolare, i microRNA-34b e microRNA-34c sono coinvolti nella regolazione di diversi processi cellulari, inclusi quelli legati alla proliferazione, all'apoptosi (morte cellulare programmata), alla senescenza cellulare e alla risposta allo stress cellulare. Nel contesto oncologico, sono stati studiati per il loro ruolo nella soppressione della crescita tumorale. Si è osservato che nei tessuti tumorali il livello di questi microRNA è ridotto rispetto ai tessuti sani e ciò è stato correlato a una maggiore aggressività della malattia e resistenza ai farmaci. Di conseguenza, ripristinare i normali livelli di espressione di questi microRNA potrebbe essere una strategia terapeutica promettente per ridurre la progressione tumorale.