Plant-Based Chewing Gum Cuts HPV Levels by Up to 93% in Lab Study - Video

Could a specially developed chewing gum help fight viruses and bacteria associated with head and neck cancer? Scientists have developed an experimental plant-based chewing gum that reduced human papillomavirus (HPV) levels by up to 93% in laboratory tests using samples from cancer patients.

Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the study conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Dental Medicine investigated whether engineered plant proteins could target microorganisms linked to head and neck cancers.

Researchers focused on HPV, a virus associated with certain oropharyngeal cancers, alongside two bacterial species, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, which have been linked to oral disease and poorer outcomes in some cancer patients.

The team developed a chewing gum using lablab beans containing FRIL, a naturally occurring protein with antiviral properties.

Researchers tested extracts from the gum against microorganisms present in saliva and oral rinse samples collected from patients with head and neck cancer.

The findings revealed that the gum extracts reduced HPV levels by approximately 93% in saliva samples and 80% in oral rinse samples.

Importantly, researchers further enhanced the gum by incorporating protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide capable of targeting certain harmful bacteria.

Laboratory experiments showed that a single dose of the modified gum extract reduced P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum to nearly undetectable levels.

Researchers also observed that the treatment did not significantly affect the beneficial oral bacteria examined during the experiments.

This selective antimicrobial activity could be particularly relevant for patients receiving cancer treatments, which may disrupt the normal balance of microorganisms in the mouth.

However, the study involved laboratory testing of patient samples rather than clinical trials in individuals chewing the gum.

The findings therefore do not establish that the gum can prevent HPV infection, treat head and neck cancer or improve survival. Further human studies are needed to establish its safety, effectiveness and potential clinical applications.

REFERENCE: Henry Daniell, Geetanjali Wakade, Rahul Singh, Smruti Nair, Saroj K. Basak, Eri S. Srivatsan, Andrés M. Bur, Sufi M. Thomas, Marilene B. Wang. Ex vivo HNSCC clinical studies using saliva and antiviral or antibacterial chewing gums reveal reduction in carcinogenic microbes. Scientific Reports, 2026; 16 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-39062-w