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n a
recent study, scientists identified several tropical plants that have
anticancer properties.
The Bandicoot Berry (shown here) may have anticancer benefits.
Researchers from the National University of
Singapore, Department of Pharmacy (NUS Pharmacy) spent 3 years investigating
the pharmacological properties of local plants.
They found that three species were
particularly effective at inhibiting the growth of several cancers, and they have now
published their findings in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
Despite the widespread use of modern medicine
in Singapore, there is a tradition of using local plants to treat various
conditions, including cancer.
Cancer is the current leading cause of death
in Singapore, where 1 out of every 4–5 people develop the condition at some
point in their lives.
A 2017 report by Singapore's Health
Promotion Board stated that the number of people who receive a cancer diagnosis
will continue to rise, but that the number of people who survive will also
increase as medical technology and cancer care improve.
Southeast Asian countries, including
Singapore and Malaysia, are undergoing rapid urbanization that is transforming
their landscape and culture. Because there is a lack of scientific evidence
around the medicinal properties of local plants, the NUS Pharmacy team
recognized an urgent need to document any health benefits these plants may
provide before the knowledge is lost.
Evidence of anticancer benefits
in 5 plants
The team focused on seven plants that people
have used as traditional medicines for cancer. They were:
• Bandicoot Berry (Leea indica)
• Sabah Snake Grass (Clinacanthus nutans)
• Fool's Curry Leaf (Clausena lansium)
• Seven Star Needle (Pereskia bleo)
• Black Face General (Strobilanthes crispus)
• South African Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina)
• Simpleleaf Chastetree (Vitex trifolia)
In the study, the team prepared extracts of
"fresh," "healthy," and "mature" leaves from
these plants and examined their effects on cells from breast, ovarian, uterine,
cervical, leukemia, liver,
and colon cancers.
Bandicoot Berry,
South African Leaf, and Simpleleaf Chastetree had an anticancer effect against
all seven types of cancer, according to the researchers. Fool's Curry Leaf and
Black Face General also had protective properties against some cancer cells.
Interestingly, the team found that Sabah
Snake Grass was not effective at preventing the growth of cancerous cells,
despite many people with cancer in the region using it.
The authors hypothesize that people commonly
use Sabah Snake Grass as a traditional medicine because it offers some kind of
benefit to people with cancer other than killing cancerous cells.
Implications for new cancer
therapies
"Medicinal plants have been used for the
treatment of diverse ailments since ancient times," says lead study author
Koh Hwee Ling, "but their anticancer properties have not been well
studied."
"Our
findings provide new scientific evidence for the use of traditional herbs for
cancer treatment, and pave the way for the development of new therapeutic
agents."
Koh Hwee Ling
Koh and colleagues add that further research
is required to identify the active compounds that provide the anticancer
effects associated with these plants. They also caution against people with
cancer attempting to self-medicate using these plants without first consulting
their doctor.
Recently, Medical News Today looked at some other studies that
evaluated the anticancer properties of plants. One of these was a 15-year-long study into a small flowering plant called
the Madagascar periwinkle.
Scientists have been aware for more than 60
years that this plant has beneficial properties for people with cancer, but
until recently, they had been unable to fully understand or replicate its
mechanism of action.
Earlier this month, MNT looked at a study that found that medicinal herbs grown in Mauritius
contain chemical compounds that may help treat esophageal cancer.
The authors of that study argued that
maintaining global biodiversity is key to ensuring the discovery and
development of breakthrough therapies now and in the future.
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