An extract from dried papaya slows the growth of cancer cells in laboratory, shows a recent study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

So far the tests were performed only in laboratories and it’s unknown if the papaya extract has the same effect in humans. However the extract appears not to harm normal cells, which could have led to side effects, and it might open the way for new treatments.

“Based on what I have seen and heard in a clinical setting, nobody who takes this extract experiences demonstrable toxicity; it seems like you could take it for a long time — as long as it is effective,” said researcher Dr. Nam Dang from the University of Florida.

The papaya extract affects the regulation of the body’s immune system and the researchers report that it slowed the growth of ten types of cancer cell cultures, including breast cancer, liver cancer, pancreas cancer, lung cancer and cervix cancer.