What is it about?

This study explores the hidden powers of the common green kiwifruit. Besides being rich in vitamin C, kiwifruit contains phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant effects, which help protect the body from damage linked to chronic diseases. What makes this research unique is the discovery of lectins in kiwifruit for the first time. Lectins are plant proteins that can recognize specific sugars on cell surfaces, and in this case, they showed a strong affinity for sialic acid, a sugar often overexpressed in tumor cells. Laboratory tests revealed that kiwifruit lectins can bind to membranes of colon and pancreatic cancer cells, suggesting potential roles in slowing tumor growth or spread. Together with phenolic antioxidants, these findings point to a combination of bioactivities that may make kiwifruit more than just a healthy snack.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease are leading global killers. This work adds new knowledge by identifying kiwifruit as not only antioxidant-rich but also a new source of lectins with possible anti-cancer effects. The discovery that kiwifruit lectins can target tumor-specific sugars is particularly novel and could inspire future therapies or functional foods. It highlights the value of everyday fruits as untapped resources in the fight against major diseases.

Perspectives

What excites me most about this study is uncovering something completely new in a fruit we thought we already knew well. Finding lectins in kiwifruit and linking them to cancer-related sugars opens a door to research we had not expected. To me, this work shows how even familiar foods can still surprise us, and how studying them deeply may lead to advances in nutrition, preventive health, and even cancer therapy.

Dr. Rosa Direito
Universidade de Lisboa

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Exploring Lectin Bioactivity and Total Phenolic Compounds in Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa var. Hayward), Nutrients, September 2024, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/nu16193292.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page