Rice Callus: A Side-Effect-Free Solution to Cancer?

Many natural products from different plant species, like curcumin (which is derived from turmeric), have been identified for the treatment of simple ailments, like treating skin problems. Recently, researchers have looked at plant-based treatments for more invasive human diseases as well. Only a few of these products, however, have proven effective against cancer based on clinical trials. The most promising plant-based treatment method found to date is rice callus. The major drawback of most anticancer drugs is that they also affect healthy cells. Our previous experiments have shown that rice callus culture killed 83 percent of colon cancer cells and 95 percent of renal cancer cells, with little or no effect on normal cells. These results are far superior to anticancer drugs that are currently available, which cannot only target cancerous cells. Unlike whole plants or individual plant tissues, callus suspension cultures can provide an unlimited supply of compounds without the limitation of differentiation and life span, which currently provide scientists with major hurdles when researching plant-based cancer treatments. We aim to test different dilutions of rice callus culture for its ability to kill human lung, prostate, and breast cancer cells—the three most common types of cancer in the United States. If we can find an effective solution, we could—for the first time—offer an anticancer drug with minimal or no side effects.