Rajshahi June11,(V7N)- Spinach is quite popular as a vegetable. When mixed with tomatoes and coriander leaves, the taste and nutritional value of the dish increase exponentially. Additionally, adding lemon to the meal provides a unique twist. Research has revealed that these four medicinal foods—tomatoes, spinach, coriander leaves, and lemon peel—can inhibit the formation of cancer cells. These ingredients not only help prevent cancer but also combat heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and other ailments.
 
Since September 2018, Professor Dr. A.H.M. Khurshid Alam from the Department of Pharmacy at Rajshahi University has been leading a team of researchers to study the anti-cancer properties of edible foods. The team, including Dr. Md. Golam Sadeq, Dr. Mamunur Rashid, Dr. Aziz Abdur Rahman, and several students, collected around 68 types of edible foods available in Bangladeshi markets. This collection included 31 types of vegetables, 17 types of fruits, and 20 types of spices. They aimed to determine whether these foods play a role in cancer prevention.
 
The uniqueness of this research lies in its use of various cancer cell lines, such as lung, cervical, kidney, and colon cancers, and its inclusion of almost all edible foods available in Bangladesh. Surprisingly, four edible foods were found to be effective in preventing cancer: tomatoes, spinach, coriander leaves, and lemon peel.
 
This research was published on January 1, 2024, in the journal Cancer Research in Australia. Another review article highlighting 11 edible foods that boost the immune system was published in the American journal Heliyon in 2021.
 
Dr. Khurshid Alam stated that these edible food ingredients provide two levels of extra protection against cancer. Their nutritional components boost immunity and make healthy cells resistant to cancer. Healthy cells can also eradicate surrounding cancer cells. These foods are readily available and have no side effects. In fact, they are part of our daily diet. If we know which foods help prevent cancer, we can create a diet plan that significantly contributes to cancer prevention.
 
He added that cancer has become one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. Its severity is increasing due to uncontrolled lifestyles and dietary habits. Identifying and properly utilizing edible foods that can build resistance against cancer in the body can significantly reduce the incidence of the disease.
 
Professor Dr. Khurshid Alam expressed concern that specific biomarkers or cancer-initiating cells (CICs) have not yet been identified, making cancer control nearly impossible. Bangladesh has 2 million cancer patients, with around 150,000 new cases each year and approximately 100,000 deaths annually. Globally, about 10 million people died of cancer in 2020, accounting for one in six deaths.
 
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), cancer is currently the second leading cause of death worldwide and is projected to become the leading cause by 2040. In Bangladesh, cancer is also the second leading cause of death. Therefore, finding ways to control cancer is a pressing concern. The government needs to form a high-powered technical committee to address this issue with strong measures. Researchers must also focus on finding alternative treatments for cancer. With this in mind, Dr. Khurshid Alam and his team have proven that vegetables have cancer-preventive properties.
 
Previously, Dr. Khurshid discovered the anti-cancer properties of mulberry fruit, bark, and roots. This research was published on January 19, 2013, in the UK-based scientific journal BMC Research Notes. Another study was published on December 9, 2016, in the US-based scientific journal PLOS ONE. As a result, Dr. A.H.M. Khurshid Alam received the University Grants Commission (UGC) Gold Medal in the same year. Additionally, he has published 94 research papers in national and international journals.
 
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