By: Ajibola Osungbohun

Claim:

An X user, @ChiefHerbalist claims that King Charles 111 is suffering from Prostate Cancer and can be cured using corn silk and soursop leaves.

Verdict: Unproven

Full Story

In a tweet on February 6th, 2024, an X user with the name ChiefHerbalist made a claim, that King Charles 111 was suffering from Prostate Cancer. The tweet also claimed that it was a small condition that corn silk and soursop leaves can cure.

As at the time the tweet was being checked, it had amassed 49.9k likes, 468 Reposts, 15 Quotes and 1,307 Likes.

This claim had raised questions and reactions from other X users from many quarters, including here and here; hence we decided to check the truth of the claim.

Verifications:

Do Corn Silk and Soursop Leaves Cure Prostate Cancer? NDR went to town to investigate this claim that could a simple solution to a difficult health problem that has almost defied medical solution.

Cancer is known as one of the life-threatening diseases. Practitioners of herbal medicine use soursop fruit and graviola tree leaves to treat stomach ailments, fever, parasitic infections, hypertension and rheumatism, according to the CityofHope, a Cancer treatment centre in the United States (US). The leaves are used as a sedative, as well.

Soursop fruit comes from the Graviola tree, an evergreen native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

In one of its publications on July 13, 2017, however, the experts warn against using Soursop to treat cancer, as limited, lab-based research suggests this fruit may help fight cancer. Besides, it has not been studied in humans. As a result, there’s no evidence of its safety or efficacy.

In other findings, Corn silks are the “long shiny and silky fiber that grows inside the husks of ears of corn.” They are the “yellowish thread-like strands from the female flower of the corn/maize plant.” Corn silk has been used as a medicinal herb in Asia for a long time.

It has been used as traditional medicine in many parts of the world such as China, Turkey, the United States and France. It is used for the treatment of cystitis, oedema, kidney stones, diuretics, prostate disorders, and urinary infections as well as bedwetting and obesity. It soothes and relaxes the lining of the bladder and urinary tubules, hence reducing irritation and increasing urine secretion.

In a 2012 study published in Molecules, Hasanudin, Hashim and Mustafa assert that corn silk can serve as an antioxidant, anti-depressant, anti-fatigue, a diuretic agent and can help reduce hyperglycemia.

The researchers, however, concluded their study by noting that “it is important to carry out clinical evaluations to substantiate the claims and further enhance the confidence in its beneficial therapeutic effects for human consumption”.

This means that the researchers recognise the need for further research to approve the product for human beings.

Commenting on the suitability of corn silk for consumption of Corn Silk and Soursop leaves to cure Prostate Cancer, Dr Elijah Adodo, an early career Family Physician and Public Health Expert at Osun State University Teaching Hospital (UNIOSUNTH), Osogbo, said “there is limited scientific evidence to support the claim that corn silk and soursop leaves can cure prostate cancer”.

According to the expert, while some natural remedies may have potential health benefits, “it’s crucial to approach such claims with caution and rely on evidence-based medical treatments.”

Regarding corn silk and soursop leaves, there is anecdotal evidence and traditional use in certain cultures, but rigorous scientific studies demonstrating their efficacy in treating prostate cancer are lacking.

It’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional before attempting any alternative or complementary therapies, especially for serious medical conditions like cancer. Medical treatment and management of prostate cancer typically depend on various factors, including the stage of cancer, the aggressiveness of the tumour, and the patient’s overall health.

Verdict: Unproven

Conclusion: From findings, while there was no official or credible news platform which reported that King Charles 111 was suffering from Prostate Cancer, experts have debunked the use of soursop leaves and Corn silk for treating Prostate Cancer as their efficacies on humans have not been proven scientifically to be effective.