A plant that had previously been dismissed as not being medically useful, could prove to be a hero in disguise.
In a new study, researchers found that it not only stops the growth of breast cancer cells but does not affect normal cells—a potential first for future cancer chemotherapy treatment.
They found the plant hormone Jasmonate (a substance discovered in jasmine that boosts plant responses to stress) could kill breast cancer cells.
They also found although the cancer cells stopped growing, the normal cells remained unaffected.
This is important as the use of the plant in breast cancer treatment could potentially lead to a quicker recovery time and less secondary effects for patients subjected to chemical treatment.
They have also discovered molecular mechanisms linked to the changes in the breast cancer cells that will allow the development of further new treatments.
The research was conducted by a team at the University of London and elsewhere.
The team has been conducting this research since 2006 and has just published a paper on the findings.
They are truly excited to have discovered the amazing impact this unassuming plant has on breast cancer cells.
It just proves that even plants with a non-medicinal pedigree can work for cancer treatment.
The discovery has important implications in developing treatments for cancer as well as other diseases.
The team’s future work will explore plant-derived chemicals that interfere with breast cancer cells as well as with other diseases.
One author of the study is Professor Alessandra Devoto.
The study is published in New Phytologist.
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