Nigerian scientists have found 18 plants that could serve as potential cure for cancer. They could help meet the critical need for affordable anti-cancer agents with higher efficacy and fewer side effects.

Researchers in an assessment of 24 plants used in Nigeria for cancer treatment showed that at least 18 of them contain chemical substances that has potentials to kill cancer cells under laboratory conditions.

Cancer is the third leading cause of death in developing countries. Despite the improvement in conventional therapies and early presentation, the effects of the treatment may still be a major concern to patients sufficiently for them to consider non-conventional treatment.

Indeed, most patients in the developing world including Nigeria are diagnosed at a stage when most conventional therapies fail. This leads to a vicious cycle in which patients present late on the understanding that nothing can be done anyway, therefore they may as well resort to other therapies.

Side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy can occasionally be life threatening, it may affect patients compliance in addition to making them vulnerable to the adoption of alternative forms of treatment which promise cure. Also, there may be overlapping side effects of treatment, which worsen the side effects that are caused by conventional therapies with a potential to have a negative influence on compliance with treatment.

In this present study, the researchers performed the preliminary screening of 24 methanolic plant extracts, used in Nigerian folk medicine, in a bid to identify plants with ability to kill cells in five human cancer cell lines. These include cells for breast, prostate, leukaemia, colon cancers.

These were plant materials obtained at different times of the year from the western part of Nigeria (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states) from traditional healers and indigenous herbal merchants. The plant materials were air dried while separate methanolic extracts were made from the leaves, seeds, stems and bark portions, respectively.

The study was carried out by Saudat Adamson Fadeyi; Olugbeminiyi O Fadeyi; Adedeji A Adejumo; and Cosmas Okoro, all Nigerians in Diaspora in coloration with Elbert Lewis Myles at the Tennessee State University, USA. The 2013 study was published in the journal, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It was entitled: “In vitro anti-cancer screening of 24 locally used Nigerian medicinal plants.”

The plants screened in this study included Acanthus montanus (Agamobo in Edo, agameebu in ahon ekun (leopard’s tongue) or eekun-arugbo (old man’s knee) in Yoruba); Allanblackia floribunda Orogbo-erin in Yoruba), egba in Ibo, ediang in Efik and obobio-obo in Ijaw); and Amaranthus spinosus(Inine in Igbo and tete elegun in Yoruba), Bidens pilosa.

Also tested were Bryophyllum pinnatum (never die or resurrection plant in English. danweshin or ekpokpo in Edo, abamoda or eru-odundun in Yoruba and odaa opue in Igbo); Byrsocarpus coccineus (oke abolo in Igbo tribe and Orikoteni or Amuje in Yoruba) and Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea in English, olele in Edo, aduwa in Hausa, fio fio in Igbo, otili in Yoruba).

Capsicum frutescens (Red pepper or Tatashi); Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed, Koko Akintola in Yoruba “ and Crassocephalum crepidioides (fireweed or thickhead, babohoh in Hausa, alapolo in Igbo and ebòlò in Yoruba); Daniellia oliveri (iya in Yoruba, maje in Hausa , ozabwa in Igbo), Erythrophleum suaveolens(Red water tree, ordeal tree, Igi Igbo in Yoruba, inyi in Igbo and baska in Hausa); Hoslundia pposita (Efirin odan in Yoruba).

In addition were Jatropa curcasl (Barbados nut or Physic nut, Lapalapa in Yoruba or olulu-idu in Igbo); Landolphia dulcis( rubber vines or UtåÌ in Igbo); Lannea nigritana (ekika in Yoruba) and Ocimum basilicum( sweet basil , ‘Dadoya’ in Hausa, Efirin in Yoruba or ‘Nchianwu in Igbo”.

Parkia biglobosa(African locust bean tree); Parkia filicoidea (doro wa in Hausa or irugba in Yoruba); Pterocarpus santalinoides(gbengbe in Yoruba, red sandalwood, nturukpa in Ibo) and Rauvolfia vomitoria (asofeyeje in Yoruba or poison devil’s-pepper) were in the group of plants tested.

Sida acuta (ogirishi in Igbo, akoko in Yoruba or Broom weed); Tetrapleura tetraptera (osakirisa in Igbo-Owerri, arida in Nupe, aidan or aridan in Yoruba) and Vitex donian (Black plum, dinya in Hausa and oori-nla in Yoruba) were also assessed.

Although six plants (Byrsocarpus coccineus, Allanblackia floribunda, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Landolphia dulcis, Erythrophleum suaveolens and Sida acuta) were considered very potent at least against one cancer cell line, they indicated that Erythrophleum suaveolens showed the most consistent activity, causing total growth inhibition of all three cell lines.

They wrote: “The data obtained in these preliminary studies provide enough evidence to suggest that Erythrophleum suaveolens does in fact contain potent cytotoxic compounds that inhibit tumour cells in vitro.

“In the crude form, these active compound(s) may elicit synergistic effects or may even be subdued by the presence of other inactive components.”

Meanwhile, they stated that a further analysis on the anti-cancer properties of Erythrophleum suaveolens compared with those of an anti-cancer drug compound as the positive control was currently underway.

Furthermore, several plants have been shown to be sources of therapeutically important agents, valuable in the treatment of cancer. For instance, plant-derived cancer drugs were isolated from the Madagascar periwinkle.

Moreover, in recent years, however, research has found that ingredients in the African potato seem to be able to slow down the onset of AIDS and cancer.

For the past year, British medical experts have been researching its effectiveness as an ‘immunobooster’. Scientists have discovered that potato is one of the richest natural sources of hormone-like substances called sterols. They have the effect of boosting the body’s immune system, by stimulating T-cells that act as ‘fighter’ cells against disease.

The biggest clinical trial has taken place in South Africa. Immunologist Professor Patrick Bouic, at the University of Stellenbosch, found that HIV patients eating the vegetable maintained blood lymphocyte levels over 27 months. But each person in the control group who chose not to eat it died.

Another South African study, in 1995, looked at its use in the treatment of patients with lung cancer. Patients taking the potato in tablet form survived longer than those taking the placebo, and one person lived five years longer than the original prognosis.

‘The active ingredient found within the sterols is called hypoxoside, a fighter chemical whose properties have an anti-inflammatory effect, anti-viral components – it tackles viruses which bring illnesses such as influenza – and immune stimulants”
Source:http://infonigeria24.com/scientists-identify-18-potential-cancer-cures/

Thank you sooooo very much for this enlightening write-up. cheers