vernonia amygdalina extract

Vernonia amygdalina extract is a botanical extract derived from the leaves of *Vernonia amygdalina* (commonly known as bitter leaf), a woody shrub native to tropical Africa. It contains a complex mixture of bioactive phytochemicals, including sesquiterpene lactones (such as vernodalin, vernolepin, and vernodalol), flavonoids (such as luteolin and apigenin), saponins, and polyphenols. Preclinical research has demonstrated that the extract possesses antitumor, antimalarial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. In various cancer models, including breast cancer, leukemia, and prostate cancer, the extract induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. These anticancer effects are mediated through pathways involving the up-regulation of the p53 tumor suppressor protein, activation of caspase-3, and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. The extract is primarily studied in academic and traditional medicine contexts and is not currently in formal pharmaceutical development.

Other names

bitter leaf extractVernonia amygdalina leaf extract