Actinidia arguta, also known as Sarunashi, is a fruit commonly grown in Japan’s Okayama Prefecture. Researchers from Okayama University, led by Sakae Arimoto-Kobayashi, have found that Sarunashi juice and its key component, isoquercetin, may help prevent and reduce lung cancer in a mouse model.
The team published their findings in Genes and Environment, in a paper titled “Chemopreventive effects and anti-tumorigenic mechanisms of Actinidia arguta, known as sarunashi in Japan toward 4 (methylnitrosoamino)‑1‑(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-induced lung tumorigenesis in a/J mouse.” In their study, the team concluded that Sarunashi juice targets both the initiation and growth/progression stages of carcinogenesis by promoting the repair of alkyl-DNA adducts, suppressing Akt-mediated growth signaling, and inhibiting mutagenesis. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death globally, and has a low five-year survival rate.
A. arguta is a rich source of polyphenols and vitamin C, and has previously been shown to have inhibitory effects on mutagenesis, inflammation, and mouse skin tumorigenesis. In their current study, the researchers found that A. arguta juice and isoquercetin reduced the number of tumor nodules in mice injected with the cancer-causing compound NNK. The mechanisms behind the anti-tumorigenic effects of A. arguta were also explored, and the team found that Sarunashi juice decreased mutagenicity and stimulated the repair of DNA damage caused by NNK and MNNG. These findings suggest that A. arguta and isoquercetin may have potential as chemopreventive agents for lung cancer.
To further understand the mechanisms behind the anti-tumorigenic effects of A. arguta, the team also explored the role of sar-j in the repair of DNA damage caused by NNK and MNNG. They found that sar-j increased the repair of DNA adducts in mice, suggesting that it may stimulate the repair of DNA damage caused by carcinogens. In addition, the team found that sar-j suppressed the Akt-mediated growth signaling pathway, which is known to play a role in carcinogenesis.
The team also conducted experiments to explore the effects of sar-j on inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are associated with the development of cancer. They found that sar-j reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines and reduced oxidative stress in mice.
Overall, the findings of this study suggest that A. arguta and isoquercetin may have potential as chemopreventive agents for lung cancer. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to explore the potential mechanisms behind the anti-tumorigenic effects of A. arguta.
In conclusion, A. arguta, also known as Sarunashi, is a fruit grown in Japan’s Okayama Prefecture that has been shown to have potential as a chemopreventive agent for lung cancer. In a mouse model, researchers from Okayama University found that Sarunashi juice and its key constituent, isoquercetin, reduced the number of tumor nodules in mice injected with a cancer-causing compound. They also found that Sarunashi juice stimulated the repair of DNA damage caused by carcinogens, suppressed the Akt-mediated growth signaling pathway, and reduced inflammation and oxidative stress. While these findings are promising, further research is needed to confirm the potential of A. arguta and isoquercetin as chemopreventive agents for lung cancer in humans.