BEC5 (Eggplant Extract)
The cancer-fighting health benefits of eggplant extract is a phytochemical called solasodine glycoside, or BEC5—and it is especially potent against skin cancer. Curaderm (BEC5 cream) was developed and tested by Dr. Cham and it can be found online without a prescription.
What is Curaderm BEC / Zycure?
Source: Sanova Dermatology
Curaderm BEC5, also known as Zycure in the U.K., is a novel treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer that is not available in the United States. In addition to skin cancer treatment, it has been used as an anti-aging cream.
The active ingredient in Curaderm is solasodine rhamnosyl glycosides, a compound derived from plants in the Solaceae family, which contains eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, and Bell peppers. A 2008 study in the UK demonstrated interesting results with 66- 78% of patients in its clinical trial seeing remission of skin cancers after eight weeks of treatment.
History of BEC
Source: Curaderm Europe
In the 1970s, Professor Bill E. Cham was talking to a veterinarian friend from Brisbane, Australia. Unexpectedly, the conversation deviated to discussing how the juice from a local plant called the Devil’s Apple was being used to effectively retard the progress of ocular squamous cell carcinoma in Hereford cattle.
Although Dr. Cham was suspicious about the claim of his friend, he immediately recognised that if this claim could be proven it would lead to enormous possibilities for medicine and offer a greatly needed service to mankind.
Dr. Cham was then faced with the daunting task to find the needle-in-a-haystack. There were hundreds of possible substances in Devil’s Apple (Solanum linnaeanum) that might be responsible for the SCC remissions.
After several years with immense dedication, belief and perseverance Dr. Cham finally isolated the responsible ingredient: solasodine glycoside (BEC). Remarkably, BEC not only worked with cattle, rendering them cancer-free and prolonging their lives, but Dr. Cham also claimed, and subsequently proved, that it had ‘antineoplastic’ properties—it can prevent and inhibit tumours—against a wide variety of human cancers as well.
Backed by studies
Curaderm
This 2020 study concluded:
Curaderm, containing solamargine and solasonine in the form of BEC, is very effective and safe in the treatment of actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma and in situ squamous cell carcinoma. Cell culture and animal studies with BEC have resulted in the safe elimination of a wide variety of cancers, including melanoma. The fact that BEC additionally has anti-metastatic properties has led to the first in man treatment of melanoma with Curaderm. Seven weeks of Curaderm therapy resulted in the removal of the melanoma with a good cosmetic outcome. Many studies are necessary to determine the safety and efficacy of BEC and Curaderm for the possible treatment of melanoma. Until then, surgical procedures for melanoma treatments are recommended.
This study says:
Open studies and double blind placebo controlled clinical trials have shown that solasodine rhamnosides in a cream formulation CuradermBEC5 is very effective for treating NMSC. The main feature of CuradermBEC5 therapy over other therapies is the specificity towards cancer cells, which translates to low recurrences of the cancers and the impressive cosmetic outcomes. The study concluded:…This study presents a case report where treatment with solasodine rhamnosides (CuradermBEC5) resulted in regression of a BCC on the nose, which had recurred after three failed attempts by widely accepted therapies. These data confirm promising effects of solasodine rhamnosides in the treatment of refractory BCCs.
This study concluded: A topical cream, CuradermBEC5, containing these antineoplastic glycoalkaloids, is very effective and safe for the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers. The treatment of skin cancers with CuradermBEC5 overcomes the major drawbacks of other currently available therapies. CuradermBEC5 is specific and eliminates the cancer cells only, without harming normal cells and consequently the cosmetic end result is excellent.
The claims of CuradermBEC5 which were investigated appear to be justifiable.
This study says:
A cream formulation containing high concentrations (10 %) of a standard mixture of solasodine glycosides (BEG’) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of malignant and benign human skin tumours. We now
report that a preparation (Curaderm) which contains very low concentrations of BEC (0.005 W) is effect in the treatment of keratoses, basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the skin
of humans. In an open study, clinical and histological observations indicated that all lesions (56 keratoses, 39 BCCs and 29 SCCs) treated with Curaderm had regressed. A placebo formulation had no effect on a smallernumber of treated lesions. Curaderm had no adverse effect on the liver, kidneys or haematopoietic system.
Note Fortytwo females, aged 42-71 years, with a total number of 72 lesions and 44 males, aged 38-74 years, with a total number of 66 lesions, were studied.
This study concluded:
There is now a much-needed alternative available for the treatment of skin cancer. Dermatologists, plastic surgeons and radiotherapists usually jointly manage the case presented here. The fact that this patient refused to, once again, be treated with surgery reflects the sentiments and reality of the dilemma faced by those suffering with such afflictions.
A safe treatment that selectively deals with skin cancer without disturbing the healing process is exceptional. The consequential end result of such a treatment is the superior cosmetic outcome when compared to other widely used procedures. It is also beneficial that CuradermBEC5 does not require continuous physician or hospital attendance.
Limitation of Curaderm Pharmacotherapy
This study says: The main limitation of topical pharmacotherapy with Curaderm is the duration of treatment, which depends on the type and size of the BCC and may take several weeks up to several months therapy for the complete removal of the BCC. Transient stinging and burning sensations are experienced in some patients for several minutes after application of Curaderm cream to the lesions. However, these limitations are considered minor when compared with the efficacy and impressive cosmetic outcomes, especially at difficult to treat locations.
Where can I get this treatment and more information?
CuradermBEC5 is available online.
See Curaderm.net for more.
The Eggplant Cancer Cure (Book by Dr Cham)
Updated January 2025