UP Study Claims Bagongon Can Possibly Prevent Spread Of Cancer Cells
BAGONGON – A recent study from students of the University of the Philippines has claimed that extracts from the horn shell, locally known as bagongon, could possibly prevent the spread of cancer cells.
The bagongon is often seen and used in the Ilonggo dish ginataang bagongon. This type of shell is abundant in almost every corner of the Philippines.
Aside from this, the study claimed it could inhibit angiogenesis. It is one mechanism of growth and spread of cancer cells.
Angiogenesis is the formation of blood vessels from pre-existing ones. With the lack of blood vessel growth, the growth of cancer cells would be stopped.
“Restriction of the tumor growth by Telescopium telescopium (Horn Snail) maybe due to the antiangiogenic activity of the compound rather than direct tumor cell killing ability“, read the study.
Based on an article from ABS-CBN, the horn snail’s antiangiogenic properties were tested using a partially opened fertilized duck egg. There, the growth of the blood vessels were monitored.
The results of their experiment saw promising results. After the treatment of the horn snail extracts, the blood vessel size, and length were reduced by significant levels.
Because the blood vessels were inhibited, they concluded that angiogenesis was also inhibited. By preventing this process to occur, cancer cells are starved and do not grow and spread.
The study aims to further research marine invertebrates, especially Telescopium telescopium for cancer treatment. “This widely distributed species of strong potential remains unexplored until today“, read the study.
The researchers used seven kilograms of live bagongon from Iloilo. The outer shells were cut open to separate the soft bodies which were then chopped into small pieces.
Four kilograms of the soft bodies were then macerated, filtered, and concentrated using a rotary evaporator at 35 degrees Celcius. The extraction process was done at the College of Pharmacy in UP.
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