A Silicate Revolution? Exploring the Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential of AVAH

Could a modified mineral supplement be the next frontier in cancer prevention and antioxidant therapy?

A groundbreaking study published in the International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products sheds light on the biological potential of a proprietary silicate compound, Alka-Vita™/Alka-V6™/Alkahydroxy™ (AVAH). This sodium silicate blend, traditionally associated with industrial and agricultural uses, may possess remarkable antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anticancer properties—at least in vitro.

Let’s unpack the science.

What Is AVAH?

AVAH is a patented formulation of sodium silicate, produced by Cisne Enterprises (Odessa, TX), and sold as a mineral supplement. Silicon, the base element, is one of the most abundant in Earth’s crust, yet its biological relevance in human health has been underexplored. While silicon is known to support bone and connective tissue development, researchers are now looking into its potential in disease prevention and cellular defense.

Decoding AVAH’s Chemical Structure

Through FTIR and ¹H MAS-NMR spectroscopy, scientists discovered that AVAH is not a single compound but a stoichiometric mixture of:

• Trimeric Sodium Silicate (Na₂SiO₃)
• Sodium Silicate Pentahydrate (Na₂SiO₃·5H₂O)

These compounds appear to be in dynamic equilibrium, allowing AVAH to exhibit a highly adaptable electrochemical profile. The presence of ionizable hydroxyl groups and water molecules gives AVAH redox-modulating capabilities, making it a potentially powerful cellular antioxidant.

Antioxidant Properties: Free Radical Quenching

To assess AVAH’s antioxidant potential, researchers employed the ABTS assay, which measures the ability of a compound to neutralize free radicals. Among several commercial sodium silicate products tested, AVAH showed the second-lowest IC50 (0.95 mM), despite having a lower silicate concentration than others.

Key Insight: This indicates that antioxidant activity is not just about quantity—it’s also about the speciation and structural form of the silicates.

Antimutagenic Activity: DNA Protection in Action

Using the Ames test on various strains of Salmonella typhimurium, AVAH demonstrated strong antimutagenic effects. At the highest tested concentration (2.9 mM), it prevented 80–100% of sodium azide-induced mutations in four of five bacterial strains.

Even at 0.029 mM, AVAH still reduced mutations by:

• 20% in TA100 (missense mutations)
• 60% in TA1535 (missense mutations)
• 86% in TA1537 (frameshift deletions)

These findings suggest AVAH may protect genetic material by blocking mutagen binding and modulating DNA repair mechanisms, key for cancer prevention.

Anticancer Potential: Inhibition of Colon Cancer Cells

Researchers examined AVAH’s effects on HT-29 human colon cancer cells, focusing on two key aspects of cancer development:

1. Cell Adhesion

• AVAH at 2.9 mM completely inhibited cancer cell adhesion.
• At 0.29 mM, adhesion was reduced by 69%.
• IC50 for adhesion inhibition: 0.15 mM

2. Cell Survival

• AVAH at 2.9 mM killed 100% of HT-29 cells.
• At 0.29 mM, 80% cell death was observed.
• IC50 for cytotoxicity: 0.18 mM

These data suggest AVAH significantly interferes with cancer cell establishment and growth—critical steps in tumor initiation and metastasis.

Apoptosis: Triggering Programmed Cell Death

AVAH was also tested for its ability to induce apoptosis, a desired feature of many cancer therapies. Using DNA fragmentation assays in Lumbricus terrestris (earthworm) cells:

• Peak apoptotic activity was observed at 0.114 mM
• Very high concentrations showed reduced apoptosis, suggesting a shift to non-apoptotic cell death pathways

AVAH appears to engage multiple cell death mechanisms, depending on the concentration.

Redox Modulation: Balancing Cellular Oxidative Stress

1. Malondialdehyde (MDA) Reduction

MDA is a byproduct of lipid peroxidation and a marker of oxidative damage. AVAH significantly reduced MDA levels in a dose-dependent manner—suggesting a strong protective effect on cell membranes.

2. Enhanced Antioxidant Enzymes

AVAH boosted key endogenous antioxidant defenses:

• SOD (Superoxide Dismutase): Increased up to 1.45×
• CAT (Catalase): Increased up to 2.32×
• GSH (Glutathione): Increased up to 1.44×

These results point to AVAH’s role in restoring redox homeostasis, an essential factor in preventing chronic diseases and cellular aging.

How Might AVAH Work?

The dual redox nature of AVAH—its ability to donate or accept electrons—likely makes it an effective buffer against oxidative stress, while its structural form allows it to:

• Scavenge harmful radicals
• Prevent DNA damage
• Induce cancer cell death
• Enhance antioxidant enzymes

✅ Summary of Key Findings

Final Thoughts: A Promising Avenue, But More Research Needed

The findings from this study present strong in vitro evidence that AVAH can act as an antioxidant, DNA-protector, and selective anticancer agent. However, it’s important to note that these results are limited to laboratory models.

Clinical efficacy and safety in humans remain to be established. Further in vivo studies are essential before AVAH can be recommended as a therapeutic or preventative supplement.

Still, the results open the door to new therapeutic strategies using silicate-based compounds in redox biology and cancer treatment.