Eggplant extract supplement, benefit for weight loss or cancer? by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Eggplant extracts are being promoted for weight loss and as a cancer cure. However the evidence to support these claims is premature. Research with these supplements in human is quite limited. As of 2011, I can only find one human study with oral pills of this supplement.

See Eggplant extract capsules if you wish to purchase this product.

Eggplant for cholesterol and lipid levels
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) extract does not alter serum lipid levels.
Arq Bras Cardiol. 2004.
 To compare the effect of eggplant extract on serum lipid levels with that of lovastatin. The study included 21 individuals of both sexes, with total cholesterol (TC) levels > 200 mg/dL, no diabetes, no contraindication for the use of statins, and no use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, divided into the following 3 groups: 1) the eggplant group (B), in which the patients drank 1 glass of eggplant extract with orange juice before breakfast each morning; 2) the statin group (E), in which the patients received 20 mg of lovastatin in the evening after dinner; 3) control group (C), in which the patients received no treatment. The eggplant extract with orange juice did not lower lipid levels.

Questions
Do you have any information on eggplant extract and a mineral called Indium? I was reading about a product called Stemulite that has these ingredients (among others) and I wanted to check their information to see if it matched with your information.
   A Medline search in 2011 with the keywords " eggplant extract" revealed one human study. The study done in Brazil did not show it to alter lipid levels. The volunteers drank one glass of eggplant extract a day.

I came across a web site that claimed, "Cure cancer with eggplant?! That's C-U-R-E, not just improve -- one of today's most common and scariest cancers? Usually in under 3 months! Hear about the 80,000 success stories and not one case of cancer coming back. How did this one get covered up? Eggplant and the latest research isn't from some fly-by-night outfit that you'd be afraid to take your dog to - but the Royal London Hospital. Virtually the entire medical press ignored this natural discovery. But one courageous M.D. broke the news - and has spent his career proving that nobody does it better than Mother Nature. Some even say he's changing modern medicine. The eggplant extract is called BEC5." Would you mind commenting on this eggplant extract discovery and whether eggplant extract does treat or cure cancer.
   A Medline search in 2011 with the keywords " eggplant extract BEC5 " did not reveal any human studies regarding the role of oral eggplant extract pills in the treatment of cancer.

You had made a comment to a question an individual had asked, about an extract called BEC5 from egg plants. You said there were no human studies on this, but Doctor W C Douglass M. D. said there was and the stuff worked. Now, I'm confused. Does it work or not and was there any studies done on it.
   As of 2011 I have seen only one human study with eggplant extract published on Medline.

I am a chiropractor and been looking around on-line for cancer information and natural treatments. I know much better than to trust Medline as the be-all and end-all for health information. This is because I realize Medline has an editorial board who will actually censor certain materials. When I read your comment: A Medline search with the keywords " eggplant extract BEC5 " revealed one human study... I got the distinct impression that you would rather not comment on the issue. I thank you for your restraint, if that is what it was.
   I have no reason to believe Medline has an editorial board that censors information. Medline is a way to search for all articles published in research journals and it does not discriminate articles. There are countless articles found in research journals that show both the benefits and shortcomings of natural supplements. I comment on the benefits and side effects of natural supplements when I have enough information to comment. If I have seen little research on a particular herb on natural extract then I can't fully comment on it. If you are familiar with additional research papers on egglant extract given to humans orally I would very much appreciate you sending them to me.

Is it true that a company has taken out a patent for eggplant extract?
   We found this on a google search: Eggplant extract for medical treatments, United States Patent 7341751. Abstract: An extract is made by cooking the fruit of an eggplant for about 15 to 30 minutes at about 120 to about 250° C., extracting the juice from the cooked fruit, and adding an oxidant to the juice that reacts with a component in it and changes its color from beige to black. Eggplants such as the Chinese eggplant and oxidants such as ferrous salts, such as ferrous sulfate, work particularly well. The extract can be formulated into various types of products, including pills, tablets, capsules, suppositories, foams, lotions, creams, and enema liquids. The products may be used for treating a variety of medical conditions, including gastrointestinal inflammation, hemorrhoids, skin inflammation, and other problems.

I had received some information on Stemulite, a supplement used by athletes and weight trainers to improve strength and conditioning among other things. The ingredients listed in Stermulite are as follows alpha lipoic acid, beta glucan, eggplant extract, quercitin, serra peptase, indium, amino canitine. I was wondering if you had any info on Stemulite and if it actually does what it says and is it safe to take on a daily basis. Please share your view of Stemulite, particularly the eggplant extract. Exactly what the extract is, does it do what they claim (build new muscle)? If so, any recommended sources to purchase.
   We are not familiar with Stemulite but there is info on the ingredients on this website.

I did some research on the Stemulite product that is now being touted. this took a while. I am always concerned when it is difficult to find the ingredients and amounts that are included in a product. One of the ingredients is indium. this is some kind of metal that when a couple of molecules are changed becomes carcinogen. I am not a doctor or researcher, but have come to trust Dr. Sahalian's research. His group might check out this product as some have asked him about this and he is not familiar with this and warn consumers if he and his researchers have concerns about this product. Since I already take most of the supplements in Stemulite (the healthy ones), I am not going to buy this product.

Q. Regarding human trials of BEC-5, you might be interested in the following: "Topical treatment of malignant and premalignant skin lesions by very low concentrations of a standard mixture (BEC) of solasodine alkaloids." Cancer Letters 1991.
Cancer Letters 1987.
Cerio R, Punjabi S. (Dermatology Department, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London. Clinical Appraisal of BEC5. Letter dated April 23, 2002.  These articles were published in the July, 2007 and December, 2005 issues of the Dr. Jonathan V. Wright's Clinical Nutrition & Healing newsletter. I have also come across these claims: Cure cancer with EGGPLANT?! That's C-U-R-E, not just improve — one of today's most common and scariest cancers? Usually in under 3 months! Success in an estimated 80,000 cases and not one case of cancer coming back. How did this one get covered up? EGGPLANT! And the latest research isn't from some fly-by-night outfit that you'd be afraid to take your dog to—but the Royal London Hospital. Virtually the entire medical press ignored this natural discovery. But one courageous M.D. broke the news—and has spent his career proving that nobody does it better than Mother Nature. Some even say he's changing modern medicine.
   A. It is premature to make such claims at this time.

Testimonial
I'm 44, male in good health and I don't take any suppliments or medication of any kind except for 400 IU of D3; and now eggplant extract (500mg). The reason I started taking the it is that I have joint pain --mostly in my elbow and shoulder -- and the eggplant helps it significantly; although I have no idea why. Just curious if you've heard of this helping joint pain or why it might help like this. I discovered this by accident.
   This is the first time we have heard of this benefit.