Fact Check: Can Guava leaves cure tumour?

A video on YouTube claims that guava leaves can cure tumours.

Claim: A video on YouTube social media claims that guava leaves can cure tumours. The video goes on to further direct for usage: First, thoroughly Wash them (guava leaves) and then chop them into smaller pieces. Place these pieces in a copper vessel and add water. Boil the mixture until the volume of water is reduced by half. The video claims that consuming the water will cure tumours and melt any lump in the body, small or big, like ice. The link to the video is here.

Fact Check: 

The claim is False.

What is the tumour?

An abnormal tissue mass forms when cells grow and divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Benign tumours may grow large but do not spread into or invade nearby tissues or other body parts. Malignant tumours can spread into or invade nearby tissues. They can also spread to other body parts through the blood and lymph systems. Also called neoplasm.(1)

Tumors (lumps) can be benign or cancerous (malignant). Benign means it is not cancer. Benign tumours usually grow quite slowly, don't spread to other body parts, and usually have a covering of normal cells. Malignant tumours are made up of cancer cells. They usually grow faster than benign tumours, spread into surrounding tissues, cause damage, and may spread to other body parts in the bloodstream or through the lymph system. They can then form secondary tumours. This is called metastasis. (2)

What causes Tumor?

Speaking to the Medical Dailogues team,  Dr Tirathram Kaushik consultant Oncosurgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals explained "Tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in the body.When cells in your body get damaged due to various factors, they die, forming new cells and replacing those dead cells. Sometimes, this ongoing cycle breaks down, resulting in the growth of abnormal or damaged cells that multiply when they shouldn't. It is a misconception that all tumors are cancerous in nature, some can be non-cancerous too. The cancerous ones widely spread to other parts of the body, increasing the risk of serious health issues. Usually, tumours are categorized into two types: malignant tumours, which are cancerous and benign tumours, which are non-cancerous. Tumours can appear anywhere in the body, including bones, skin, tissues, thigh or shoulder. Early detection of tumours can help save lives and prevent further complications. One could face symptoms such as fatigue, excessive sweat, especially at night, loss of appetite, bloating, sudden weight gain or weight loss, difficulty breathing, sore throat or ulcers lasting more than 3 weeks. It is important to consult experts or doctors to seek medical guidance to combat tumour to minimize further complications."

Guava leaves and nutritional benefits:

The leaves of the guava plant (P. guajava ))have been studied for their health benefits, which are attributed to their plethora of phytochemicals, such as quercetin, avicularin, apigenin, guaijaverin, kaempferol, hyperin, myricetin, gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, and caffeic acid. (3)

Can Guava leaves cure tumours?

Some research shows that guava does have some anticancer properties, but no definitive scientific evidence claims that drinking guava leaf juice can cure tumours or melt lumps.

A study by Biswas et al. mentioned that "phytochemicals or bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols and flavonoids as well as essential oils of guava (P. guajava ) fruits and leaves, are suitable for antioxidative, antiproliferative, antitumorigenic, and anticarcinogenic potential." (4)

Another study by Lok et al. reported, " The various parts of the guava plant have been shown to exhibit medicinal properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities. Recent studies have shown that the bioactive phytochemicals of several parts of the guava plant (P. guajava) exhibit anticancer activity. (5)

Despite studies showing that guava may have some anticancer properties, no scientific evidence or consensus in the medical fraternity supports the claim that it can cure tumours.

Responding to the claim, Dr Tirathram Kaushik, consultant Oncosurgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals, stated, "Various parts of fruits or plants, including leaves, are used for medicinal purposes and curing various health-related issues. Although guava leaf extract is believed to have anti-cancer properties, it might help tackle tumours. Guava leaf juice can help with health-related problems like stomach pain, reduce acne, improve digestion, and heal serious wounds. Overconsumption causes nausea, stomach pain and skin irritation. Moreover, the isn't any scientific research to support or justify this claim. So, there is no knowledge about how it works for the patients. Individuals are advised to seek medical attention for treating serious conditions like tumors instead of fully depending on such hacks. Don't fall prey to anyone, such as trends or forward messages on social media. It is better to discuss with your doctor before following any such quick fixes, as they can do more harm than good. Be alert and stick to the advice given by the expert."

Dr. Philip George Kuttikat, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Apollo Adlux Hospital, Angamaly, Ernakulam, added, "Green leaves may contain antioxidants, which can be present in various types of leaves, not limited to guava leaves. However, to claim that they can resolve tumours is unscientific. Such assertions could mislead patients with tumours, potentially causing delays in receiving proper cancer treatment."

Medical Dialogues Final Take:

While some studies suggest guava leaves have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that they can cure tumours. Hence, the claim that drinking guava leaf juice can melt lumps like ice is False.

References:

1.https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/tumor.

2.https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/how-cancers-grow.

3.Kumar M, Tomar M, Amarowicz R, Saurabh V, Nair MS, Maheshwari C, Sasi M, Prajapati U, Hasan M, Singh S, Changan S, Prajapat RK, Berwal MK, Satankar V. Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Leaves: Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Profile, and Health-Promoting Bioactivities. Foods. 2021 Apr 1;10(4):752. doi: 10.3390/foods10040752. PMID: 33916183; PMCID: PMC8066327.

4.Biswas, S., Talukdar, P., & Talapatra, D. S. (2019). Presence of phytochemicals in fruits and leaves of guava (Psidium guajava Linn.) for cancer prevention: A mini review. Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics, 9(4-s), 726-729. https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v9i4-s.3290.

5.Lok, B., Sandai, D., Baharetha, H. M., Nazari, M. V., Asif, M., Tan, C. S., & Abdul Majid, A. M. S. (2020). Anticancer effect of Psidium guajava (Guava) leaf extracts against colorectal cancer through inhibition of angiogenesis. *Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine*, 10(7), 293-307. https://doi.org/10.4103/2221-1691.284944.