Honeybee associated Aspergillus niger AW17 as a source of selective anticancer compounds with cytotoxicity evaluation in human cancer cell lines

Scientists discovered that a fungus found in honeybees can produce compounds that effectively kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells largely unharmed. The fungus (Aspergillus niger AW17) contains unique bioactive compounds including high levels of oleic acid and a rare compound called pachymic acid. When tested against four types of human cancer cells, the fungal extract was particularly effective against liver and colorectal cancer. This finding suggests that exploring specialized environments like beehives could lead to new cancer treatments with fewer side effects.