A study reveals a Chinese plant against cancerous tumors
Chinese and British researchers have discovered evolutionary secrets that enable the medicinal herb known as "Barbed Skullcap" to produce cancer-fighting compounds.
Professor Kathy Martin, one of the study's authors, told Physiology: "We found that the primary metabolite had activity against cancer cells but not non-cancerous cells, which is particularly important for an anti-cancer metabolite. Now we are looking to develop synthetic methods to produce more of the lead compound." .
In traditional Chinese medicine, to isolate the medicinal chemistry from the plant, the herb is boiled in water for two hours and then the extract is dried to produce a powder and taken as a decoction (concentrated liquid).
"Now, with knowledge of the genes that make up the biochemical pathway behind the anti-cancer activity, researchers are moving closer to being able to manufacture larger quantities of the compounds more quickly and sustainably," she added.
The plant has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various medical conditions.
And clinical work has shown that preparations based on it during chemotherapy can reduce the risk of malignant tumors.
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