In a groundbreaking revelation, a traditional rice beer starter culture from Tripura—a staple in the region’s tribal heritage—has shown potential anti-cancer properties, particularly against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a recent study published in In Silico Pharmacology.
The research, conducted by scientists from the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, and Nagaland University, utilized in-silico pharmacological analysis to study the medicinal potential of bioactive compounds found in the indigenous fermentation starter widely used in northeastern India.
A Potent Mix of Nutrition and Medicine
The starter culture, beyond its cultural value, was found to be nutritionally rich, containing:
Crude proteins (35.12 µg/ml)
Carbohydrates (30 mg/ml)
Flavonoids (15 mg quercetin equivalent/g%)It also demonstrated moderate antioxidant activity, with an IC50 value of 48.5 µg/ml—an indicator of its ability to neutralize free radicals.
Molecular Targets in Cancer Therapy
Advanced GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) analysis identified over 20 bioactive compounds in the starter. Among them, Ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one exhibited strong molecular binding affinity (-8.5 kcal/mol) to HER-2, a protein closely linked to the development and progression of lung cancer.
Further pharmacokinetic assessments revealed that several compounds possessed favorable drug-like properties, including high gastrointestinal absorption and potential blood-brain barrier permeability—essential traits for any effective drug candidate.
Bridging Traditional Knowledge with Modern Science
The study highlights how indigenous food practices—often overlooked in modern medical research—can serve as a valuable source for novel therapeutic discoveries. The researchers stressed the need to protect and study traditional knowledge systems, which may hold untapped solutions for complex diseases like cancer.
The full research findings will be made publicly available via PubMed Central by April 2026.
As the scientific world continues to explore new frontiers in oncology, Tripura’s humble rice beer starter could one day become a key player in the fight against cancer, proving once again that ancient wisdom and modern science can go hand in hand.