Exploring food and medicine homology: potential implications for cancer treatment innovations

Meng-Yao Li; Ao Gu; Jiatong Li; Nannan Tang; Maima Matin; Yukun Yang; Gökhan Zengin; Atanas G. Atanasov

doi:10.15212/AMM-2025-0003

Acta Materia Medica ›› 2025, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (2) :200 -206. DOI: 10.15212/AMM-2025-0003

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research-article

Exploring food and medicine homology: potential implications for cancer treatment innovations

Meng-Yao Li ^a^,^b^,^c^,¹^,^*
, Ao Gu ^a^,^b^,¹
, Jiatong Li ^a^,^b^,^c^,¹
, Nannan Tang ^a^,^b
, Maima Matin ^d
, Yukun Yang ^e^,^*
, Gökhan Zengin ^f^,^*
, Atanas G. Atanasov ^d^,^g^,^h^,^*

Author information +

^a State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China

^b Shanghai Key Laboratory for Cancer Systems Regulation and Clinical Translation, Shanghai Jiading District Central Hospital , Shanghai, China

^cDepartment of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China

^d Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences , Magdalenka, Poland

^e School of Life Science, Shanxi University , Taiyuan, China

^f Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Selcuk University , Campus, Konya, Turkey

^g Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria

^h Laboratory of Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry (LNPMC), Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS) , Thandalam, Chennai, India

^*limy@sioc.ac.cn (M.-Y. Li)

yangyukun@sxu.edu.cn (Y. Yang)

gokhanzengin@selcuk.edu.tr (G. Zengin)

Atanas.Atanasov@dhps.lbg.ac.at (A. G. Atanasov)

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Abstract

The concept of food and medicine homology (FMH) is deeply embedded in traditional Chinese medicine and carries historical importance. The recent rigorous definition of FMH pertains to substances that exhibit both pharmacological and nutritional functions, and have active ingredients that are fundamentally non-toxic and appropriate for extended consumption. With the progression of modern biotechnology, the application of this concept in treating diseases has markedly expanded, and its intrinsic mechanisms have been examined in detail. The use of FMH substances in cancer therapy, as either a primary treatment or an adjuvant therapy, has paved the way to low-toxicity cancer treatments. This commentary examines the theoretical underpinnings, potential advantages, and practical applications of FMH substances in cancer prevention, treatment, and nutritional support enhancement. Advantages including low toxicity, long-term edibility, minimal adverse effects, and high patient compliance are discussed. Moreover, owing to its multicomponent and multitarget characteristics, FMH may provide novel opportunities for cancer therapy. Given the high lethality of cancer and associated ethical implications, current research should prioritize fundamental studies investigating potential FMH applications in cancer therapy. Concurrently, preliminary preclinical studies would be appropriate to establish a solid foundation for subsequent clinical trials.

Keywords

Food and medicine homology / Cancer / Pharmacological and nutritional functions / Hypotoxic treatment

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Meng-Yao Li, Ao Gu, Jiatong Li, Nannan Tang, Maima Matin, Yukun Yang, Gökhan Zengin, Atanas G. Atanasov. Exploring food and medicine homology: potential implications for cancer treatment innovations. Acta Materia Medica, 2025, 4 (2) : 200-206 DOI:10.15212/AMM-2025-0003

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