Enhancement of cancer cell growth inhibitory effects in vegetable paper extracts via component adjustment using decolorizing agents

This study investigates the medical application of "vegetable paper" made from cabbage waste as a potential anti-cancer agent. While vegetables contain bioactive compounds, extracting and purifying these components is often time-consuming. We hypothesized that vegetable paper, characterized by concentrated nutrients and reduced water content, allows for efficient component adjustment using decolorizing agents like hydrogen peroxide and methanol. Vegetable paper extracts were prepared and their effects on the growth of HaCaT (normal human keratinocytes) and A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma cells) were evaluated using MTT assays. Results showed that untreated vegetable paper extracts contained both growth-promoting and inhibitory components. Treatment with hydrogen peroxide selectively removed components that promote normal cell growth while maintaining anti-cancer activity, potentially reducing the risk of unwanted cell proliferation. Conversely, methanol treatment significantly enhanced the growth inhibitory effect on both cell types, suggesting the removal of universal growth-promoting factors. These findings suggest that vegetable paper, adjusted with specific chemical agents, could serve as a localized treatment for cancer.