A compound extracted from tangerine peel can kill certain human cancer cells, research shows.
Leicester School of Pharmacy found Salvestrol Q40 was turned into a toxic compound in cancer cells, destroying them.
Salvestrol Q40 is found at higher concentrations in tangerine peel, than beneath the peel of the fruit.
The researchers suggest the modern trend to throw away peel may have contributed to a rise in some cancers.
Lead researcher Dr Hoon Tan said his work was still at an early stage, but together with his colleagues he has formed a company to investigate further the potential to develop natural anti-cancer therapies.
He said: "It is very exciting to find a compound in food that can target cancers specifically."
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