According to a recently published study, phytochemicals or phytochemicals from Ipomea sepiaria (morning glories) can be used in...Fight against cancerbe useful. The research conducted computer simulations of the various chemicals found in this species against a range of enzymes. The latter are known as metallopeptidases. Inhibiting the activity of these enzymes found in cancer cells could hinder their replication and potentially stop tumor growth in its tracks.
Thousands of plants contain natural products and chemicals with physiological activity. In fact, around 40 percent of modern medicines have their roots in natural botanical products. The morning glory plant is known as a component of Ayurvedic medicine in the form of Lakshmana, primarily as a laxative. It is also claimed to act as an antidote for arsenic poisoning and also as an aphrodisiac. However, robust randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials for many of the claims regarding the medicinal properties of this plant are not yet available. Scientists point out that cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Therefore, the development of anticancer and antineoplastic agents is high on the pharmaceutical industry's agenda. A research team from India has now examined 247 phytochemicals identified in morning glories against a computer model made up of enzymes.
The screening showed that eight chemicals, tetradecanoic acid, nerolidol, ipomeanin, dibutyl phthalate, cis-caffeic acid, moupinamide and N-cis-feruloyltyramine, were active against the enzymes. For this reason, these can be further investigated as potential cancer drugs. In addition, these compounds performed better in tests than four different drugs currently available in the cancer therapy arsenal. The next step, of course, is to explore the study results in test tubes in laboratory tests and then bring them into animal testing and finally into human testing. The compounds are promising, but as with drug development, the path from discovery to market is long and arduous.
Medical perspectives
Many cancer drugs kill cancer cells by inhibiting the replication of their genetic material, DNA. One of these drugs is gemcitabine, which is used to treat pancreatic, bladder and lung cancer, among other things. It mimics one of the building blocks of DNA, the nucleoside deoxycytidine, and competes with it for integration into the DNA of cancer cells. Once integrated, it inhibits DNA replication and thus the division of the cancer cell. It shouldafter the studyIt should be noted that although phytochemicals from Lakshmana have physiological activity, their use is not a substitute for medical consultation with an oncologist for cancer and adherence to proven therapies for the best prognosis for the patient.
