Detecting cancer cell kill substance in a forest tree

Researchers at the Sarawak Center for Biodiversity, Malaysia (SBC) and Ohio State University are accelerating the development and commercialization of a compound that can kill cancer cells from a plant tropical forest.

Researchers have found a cancer-fighting compound in the Aglaia plant

The anticancer is silvestrol, a compound in the branches, fruits and shells of the Aglaia plant, found in Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia and some Pacific islands. For years, this plant has been used to treat digestive disorders in Malaysia but has never been used to treat cancer.

Researchers at Ohio State University found that silvestrol is capable of killing cancer cells in mice. This opens up new ways to treat human cancer in the near future.

Alan Douglas Kinghorn, a senior researcher at the Ohio State University's Center for Oncology and a leading expert on silvestrol, also named the compound saying that silvestrol has The results are very positive for malignant B cells such as acute lymphoid leukemia or cystic cell lymphoma. Silvestrol also inhibits the growth of lung, breast and prostate cancer cells. The important thing is that silvestrol does not harm healthy cells of the immune system, overcoming the weaknesses of existing leukemia treatments.

The team is testing this compound in animals and hopes to conduct a human clinical trial within the next three to four years.

In order to conduct further research and development of silvestrol, the state of Ohio signed an agreement with SBC, whereby the University will exclusively monopolize the silvestrol compound of SBC. This center will provide raw materials for Ohio State University. In return, after the clinical trial is successful and the compound is commercialized, SBC will receive a share of royalties.