Scientists discover compound from leaves could be used to destroy cells
Flower power may be key to killing cancer
SCIENTISTS in Birmingham have discovered how to create a new cancer treatment from a common wild flower found in the UK.
Their research means the daisy-like plant called feverfew could be used to develop a new prescription drug in the fight against cancer.
Researchers discovered a method for extracting a naturally occurring substance called parthenolide from the leaves of the plant.
And it was used to make compounds that killed cancer cells in laboratory tests.
The compounds, which destroyed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells, show promise of being developed into drugs, say University of Birmingham boffins. They appear to kill cancerous cells by increasing the levels of “reactive oxygen species” to a critical point.
Professor John Fossey, from the university’s school of chemistry, said: “This research is important not only because we have shown a way of producing parthenolide that could make it much more accessible to researchers, but also because we’ve been able to
improve its ‘drug-like’ properties to kill cancer cells. It’s a clear demonstration that parthenolide has the potential to progress from the flower bed into the clinic.”
Feverfew, which is sold in health shops as a remedy for migraines and inflammatory conditions, is a common flowering plant from the daisy family.
The strong-smelling herb – sometimes confused with the similar-looking chamomile – grows wild on roadsides and wasteland in the UK and is also found in gardens.
It has a long history in traditional herbal medicine, dating back to the time of the ancient Greeks.
As its name suggests, feverfew was primarily a treatment for fevers but has also been used to treat psoriasis, arthritis, dermatitis, insect bites, allergies, asthma, digestive problems, toothache, earache, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, infertility and problems with menstruation and childbirth.