Researchers have discovered that fermented stevia, a natural plant extract, can target pancreatic cancer cells while leaving healthy kidney cells unharmed. The study used Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T, a bacterium from banana leaves, to ferment stevia leaves and compare it to a regular extract. The fermented version (FSLE) was found to be more potent than the non-fermented extract. The study also found that FSLE killed pancreatic cancer cells more efficiently than the non-fermented extract, while leaving healthy kidney cells unaffected. Fermented stevia also showed strong antioxidant effects, neutralizing free radicals more effectively than the non-fermented extract. This could help identify new and effective anticancer compounds derived from medicinal plants.
