Vikil 20 draws scientific interest over potential against prostate cancer

A Ghanaian herbal preparation, Vikil 20, manufactured by Joy Industries Limited, has attracted scientific interest following laboratory findings suggesting it could inhibit the growth and movement of prostate cancer cells and demonstrate antioxidant activity.

The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Integrative Cancer Therapies on May 9, 2024, provide a basis for further investigation into the potential of Ghanaian medicinal plants in cancer research.

The study was conducted by scientists affiliated with the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho and the Centre for Plant Medicine Research at Mampong.

It examined the antioxidant properties of Vikil 20 and its effects on prostate cancer cells under controlled laboratory conditions.

The findings were presented by lead researcher Professor Clement Okraku Tettey, Head of Department at UHAS, at the Third Scientific Conference of the Ghana Armed Forces Health Service in 2026, renewing attention to scientific research into locally developed herbal preparations.

Held on the theme “From Evidence to Impact: Bridging the Gap Between Research, Policy and Practice,” the conference brought together academics, medical practitioners, traditional authorities and other stakeholders.

Vikil 20 is marketed as a Ghanaian herbal preparation for immune support and general wellbeing. Joy Industries Limited produces herbal medicines and other consumer products, with Vikil 20 among its associated preparations.

The scientific investigation offers an opportunity to examine the formulation’s biological properties and whether they could inform future pharmaceutical research. However, laboratory evidence alone does not establish that the product can prevent or treat cancer in humans.

The study identifies three plant ingredients in Vikil 20: Khaya senegalensis, Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, and Vernonia amygdalina, popularly called bitter leaf.

Although these plants have histories of use in traditional medicine, their presence in a formulation does not automatically establish its safety or effectiveness against a specific disease.

To assess the preparation’s antioxidant activity, the researchers used laboratory assays designed to measure its ability to neutralise free radicals. At the highest concentration tested, Vikil 20 neutralised 57.61 per cent of DPPH radicals and 92.88 per cent of ABTS radicals.

The results indicated antioxidant activity in both tests. Oxidative stress, which occurs when free radicals overwhelm the body’s antioxidant defences, has been associated with several disease processes, including mechanisms involved in cancer development.

However, the findings do not establish that taking Vikil 20 reduces the risk of prostate cancer in humans.

Another key finding involved PC-3 cells, a laboratory cell line commonly used in prostate cancer research.

After 48 hours of exposure to Vikil 20, the viability of the cancer cells fell to approximately 50.5 per cent at the highest concentration tested.

The researchers also observed significant inhibition of cancer-cell movement and attachment, processes examined in research into cancer invasion and the potential spread of malignant cells.

The preparation produced a modest reduction in the secretion of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, a signalling protein involved in inflammation and other biological processes associated with cancer progression.

The study reported no comparable reduction in the viability of the non-cancerous cells used for comparison. This finding raises the possibility that the preparation may affect cancer cells differently from non-cancerous cells under the conditions tested.

Further studies are nevertheless needed to establish whether these effects are reproducible and whether the preparation is safe in living organisms.

Experiments involving isolated cells cannot reliably predict how an herbal preparation will behave in the human body, where absorption, metabolism, dosage and interactions with other substances can influence its effects.

The findings highlight the potential value of sustained investment in research into medicinal plants and locally developed herbal preparations.

Government agencies, universities, research institutions and private manufacturers could collaborate to investigate potentially active compounds, assess safety and determine whether promising laboratory results can be replicate