Posted by agri_center | Posted in Food and Nutrition, Research and Development/Product Development | Posted on 29-09-2008
Tags: Add new tag, banaba anti-cancer, banaba cure, carmona retusa, Extracts of two medicinal plants found to stop cancer, Lagerstroemia Speciosa, philippine banaba, philippine tsaang gubat, tsaang gubat anti-cancer, tsaang gubat cure
Tsaang Gubat
TACLOBAN CITY- One Dr. Gerard L. Penecilla, a pharmaceutical scientist of the National Research Council of the Philippines, a native of Iloilo, has discovered two medicinal plants that could stop cancer. These plants are the popular Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn) and theTsaang Gubat (Carmona retusa Var.).
The extract that comes out from the pounded Banaba leaves and bark is popular in treating kidney troubles and serves as an anti-diuretic. On the other hand, the extract of Tsaang Gubat leaves is commonly used as tea or tonic drink to treat stomach ailments and popular as antibacteria.
Recently, Dr. Penecilla found that these plants also have a high potential in fighting the growth and multiplication of cancer cells. His findings was determined by a laboratory technique called yeast bioassay or microtiter assay, a method used to determine various pharmacologic activities of medicinal plants, such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, etc. Dr. Penecilla used this technique, for the first time, in determining the anticancer potential of medicinal plants.
Banaba
A dosage of 30ug/ml of Banaba bark extract is efficient to counter cancer cells. The test further noted that it would take about a dosage of 5ug/ml to be economically feasible for pharmaceutical companies in producing anticancer medicine. Dr. Penecilla recommended more chemical and structure-activity-relationships to reach the said level.
For the Tsaang Gubat, out of the many sample extracts tested, a certain dosage was found effective against cancer cell.
Dr. Penecilla hopes that his research using the yeast bioassay technique could pave the way for the strong interaction and cooperation among the Filipino chemists, botanists, biologists, physicians and the government research funding institutions as well, in coming up with solid scientific research on medicinal plants that could aid local pharmaceutical companies to produce anticancer medicine at very low cost. In the end, the health and welfare of the Filipinos will be the beneficiaries of this scientific collaboration.
Written by Jowi A. Carteciano
Source: www.dost.gov.ph
Photo source: www.stuartexchange.com, www.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph