• 8/2/2004
  • New Delhi, India
  • By: Upali Rupasinghe
  • New Deli Daily News

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata have identified a molecule in betel leaf which they say can be effective in killing blood cancer cells.

The use of betel juice for treating diseases is a common practice in rural areas and experiments were carried out on the immuno-protection capabilities of the betel leaf. The initial results have indicated that the betel leaf could highly effective against Leukaemia, IICB Director Samir Bhattacharya said.

Scientists have conduced experiments on cancer cells, obtained from USA and Europe.

Tests have revealed that chlorogenic acid, code-named icb-101, was effective on blood cancer cells but did not destroy other non-cancerous cells. Elated with their initial results, scientists had referred their work to the international journal Blood which had sought several clarifications and whether the molecule could be effective in curing other forms of cancer, like oral cancer.

The scientists have informed the Indian Council for Medical Research about the discovery and the drug trial on human body is expected to start soon.

OCF Note: Now wouldn’t this be something? The very plant that causes so many cases of oral cancer in this region of the world and in Asia could contain a compound that could be used to TREAT oral cancer.