The smell of ripe fruit may suppress cancer cell growth

Smell is a sensation that occurs when olfactory cells in the nose react with specific chemicals, sending signals to the brain. Research has shown that the chemical substance responsible for the aromas emitted by ripe fruits and fermented foods has the effect of suppressing the growth of cancer cells.

Plasticity of gene expression in the nervous system by exposure to environmental odorants that inhibit HDACs | eLife
https://elifesciences.org/articles/86823

The Smell of Ripe Fruit Could Halt The Growth of Cancer Cells : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-smell-of-ripe-fruit-could-halt-the-growth-of-cancer-cells

The research team discovered that a substance called diacetyl acts as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. Diacetyl is a volatile compound released by yeast during fruit fermentation, and is used to give popcorn the buttery flavor and to flavor e-cigarettes.

Histones are proteins that wrap DNA in order to fold it into chromosomes. When histone deacetylase, an enzyme that acts on histones, is inhibited, suppressed genes become more easily expressed, and this has been shown to affect some cancer cells.

The research team exposed Drosophila melanogaster and mice to diacetyl vapor for five days. As a result, a wide range of changes were caused in gene expression in various tissues such as Drosophila melanogaster and mouse cells, lungs, and touch.

Furthermore, the research team reported that when human neuroblastoma cells in culture were exposed to diacetyl vapor, the growth of human neuroblastoma cells stopped. In addition, when a similar experiment was conducted on Drosophila melanogaster, which had a genetic mutation that caused Huntington 's disease , a neurodegenerative disease, it was found that it was effective in slowing the progression of neurodegeneration.

Anandasankar Ray, a cell and molecular biologist at the University of California, Riverside, and senior author of the study, said: ``We know that some volatile compounds released by microorganisms and food may be harmful to neurons and other organisms. 'We have made the important discovery that this effect can alter the epigenetic state of eukaryotic cells. Our study is the first time that such an effect has been seen for a volatile compound.' states.

However, the research team says that direct inhalation of diacetyl vapor may not be the optimal solution for treatment, as it may cause mutations in airway cells and obstructive bronchitis . “We are already working to identify other volatiles that alter gene expression,” said Ray, who has founded two start-up companies based on the work of his research team and has several It has been revealed that a patent has been applied for.