Stem Cells from Yew Trees Could Provide Low-Cost Cancer Drug
Tree cells point towards cancer drug. A popular cancer drug could be produced cheaply and sustainably using stem cells derived from trees, a study suggests. Researchers have isolated and grown stem cells from a yew tree whose bark is a natural source of the anticancer compound paclitaxel. The development could enable the compound to be produced on a commercial scale at low cost, with no harmful by-products. Widespread treatment. Scientists and engineers behind the development say the drug treatment – currently used on lung, ovarian, breast, head and neck cancer -
could become cheaper and more widely available. The study was carried out by the University of Edinburgh and the Unhwa Biotech company in Korea. Currently, an extract from yew tree bark is used to industrially manufacture the compound paclitaxel. However, this process is expensive, requires supplies of mature trees, and creates environmentally damaging by-products. Cheap supply. Researchers claim that using stem cells – self-renewing tree cells which can be manipulated to produce large amounts of the active compound – would effectively create an abundant supply of the drug. The process would cost far less than conventional methods. Added potential. Scientists behind the project have also cultured stem cells from other plants with medical applications. This indicates that the technique could be used to manufacture other important pharmaceuticals besides paclitaxel. The study was published in Nature Biotechnology and supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Plants are a rich source of medicine – around one in four drugs in use today is derived from plants. Our findings could deliver a low-cost, clean and safe way to harness the healing power of plants, potentially helping to treat cancer and other conditions.” Professor Gary Loake School of Biological Sciences. News from: The University of Edinburgh www.ed.ac.uk
Dear friend,this is an open project and accepts the help of anyone willing to make positive thinking…
Send your proposals (articles, cartoons, funny pictures and videos) and find an open door where to move your ideas … POSITIVE!
Write to: [email protected]
Show on your site a link to our www.goodnews.ws
GOODNEWS Cerca il Meglio per te
