Vikil 20 draws scientific interest over potential against prostate cancer A Ghanaian herbal preparation, Vikil 20, manufactured by Joy Industries Limited, has attracted scientific interest following laboratory findings suggesting it could inhibit the growth and movement of prostate cancer cells and…
Vikil 20 draws scientific interest over potential against prostate cancer
A Ghanaian herbal preparation, Vikil 20, manufactured by Joy Industries Limited, has attracted scientific interest following laboratory findings suggesting it could inhibit the growth and movement of prostate cancer cells and demonstrate antioxidant activity. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Integrative Cancer Therapies on May 9, 2024, provide a basis for further investigation into the potential of Ghanaian medicinal plants in cancer research. It examined the antioxidant properties of Vikil 20 and its effects on prostate cancer cells under controlled laboratory conditions. The study identifies three plant ingredients in Vikil 20: Khaya senegalensis, Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, and Vernonia amygdalina, popularly called bitter leaf. To assess the preparation's antioxidant activity, the researchers used laboratory assays designed to measure its ability to neutralise free radicals. At the highest concentration tested, Vikil 20 neutralised 57.61 per cent of DPPH radicals and 92.88 per cent of ABTS radicals. The results indicated antioxidant activity in both tests. Oxidative stress, which occurs when free radicals overwhelm the body's antioxidant defences, has been associated with several disease processes, including mechanisms involved in cancer development. Another key finding involved PC-3 cells, a laboratory cell line commonly used in prostate cancer research.
After 48 hours of exposure to Vikil 20, the viability of the cancer cells fell to approximately 50.5 per cent at the highest concentration tested. The researchers also observed significant inhibition of cancer-cell movement and attachment, processes examined in research into cancer invasion and the potential spread of malignant cells. The preparation produced a modest reduction in the secretion of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, a signalling protein involved in inflammation and other biological processes associated with cancer progression. This finding raises the possibility that the preparation may affect cancer cells differently from non-cancerous cells under the conditions tested. Further studies are nevertheless needed to establish whether these effects are reproducible and whether the preparation is safe in living organisms. Experiments involving isolated cells cannot reliably predict how an herbal preparation will behave in the human body, where absorption, metabolism, dosage and interactions with other substances can influence its effects. The findings highlight the potential value of sustained investment in research into medicinal plants and locally developed herbal preparations.
