Study highlights cancer-fighting potential of coffee plant compounds grown in Nigeria and beyond

Dorris Obinna

Cervical cancer remains one of the most serious health threats to women worldwide, especially in countries where access to advanced cancer treatment is limited. While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation can help, these options are often expensive and hard to access for many communities.

A new study published in the Journal Bioinformatics Advances suggests that natural compounds found in the coffee plant (Coffea arabica) — the same species that produces the beans used for your morning brew — may offer clues for new approaches to slowing cervical cancer growth.

Coffee trees of the Coffea arabica species are among the most widely known types of coffee plants and are widely believed to be the earliest cultivated coffee species, with origins tracing back over a thousand years. While they are grown in major coffee-producing regions around the world, small amounts are also cultivated in parts of Nigeria, including the Mambilla Plateau and areas of Cross River State, alongside the more widely grown robusta coffee.

Researchers say that this plant contains many natural chemicals that can affect how cells behave in the body. Earlier studies linked some of these compounds to anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects, but until now, their potential effects on cervical cancer were unclear.

To explore this, researchers analysed genetic data from hundreds of cervical cancer patients and compared it with healthy cervical tissue. They identified genes that behave abnormally in cancer cells and then checked which of those genes might be influenced by compounds naturally found in Coffea arabica.
The authors of the study, led by first author Victor Omoboyede, reported in the publication that the findings identify previously underexplored molecular targets and offer a new way of linking coffee plant compounds to key drivers of cervical cancer progression.

This process narrowed thousands of genes down to a smaller group that are both important in cervical cancer and likely to interact with coffee plant compounds. Several of these genes are involved in processes that help cancer grow and spread.

Looking at patient survival data, the team found that some of these genes were linked to poorer outcomes. One, called MMP7, stood out because it helps cancer cells break through surrounding tissue, making the disease more aggressive.

Using advanced computer models, the researchers then tested which coffee compounds might block MMP7. One compound, carnosol, showed especially strong potential, with simulations suggesting it could interfere with how MMP7 works.

If confirmed in laboratory and human studies, this effect might help slow the spread of cervical cancer by limiting the cancer’s ability to invade healthy tissue.

The researchers stress this study does not mean drinking coffee can treat cancer. The findings are based on computer analysis and patient data, not clinical trials. Much more research is needed before any medical use can be considered.

Still, this study shows how everyday plants — even those grown in places like Nigeria — may provide valuable clues for future cancer treatments. By combining patient data with modern computing tools, scientists can identify promising natural compounds that may one day contribute to safer and more affordable cancer therapies.