Screening the herbal pharmacy(l active extracts tracing the active com...),Health

Date:3/4/2008

l active extracts, tracing the active component after each separation step by cell tests. The chemical structure of the compounds is analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy. We are combining natural substance research with advanced analytical and molecular-biological methods, Efferth explains. Plant constituents that seem particularly promising are immediately subjected to further tests. Such constituents include, for example, substances derived from the Rangoon Creeper, an ornamental plant with red flowers, or from Red-Root Sage. The latter contains three ingredients with powerful anti-tumor activity. The substances were found to suppress the growth of a specific tumor cell line that is particularly resistant to many commonly used cytotoxins due to overproduction of a transport protein in the cell wall. In contrast, a whole range of standard anti-cancer drugs fail to be effective against this cell.

We can expect to find many interesting, yet unknown working mechanisms among the chemically highly diverse natural substances. Currently, we are aligning the effectiveness of the substances on 60 different cancer cell lines with the gene activity profiles of these cells. Thus, we can determine the exact gene products that are the cellular targets of our compounds. Thereby, it may be possible to discover whole new Achilles heels of the cancer cell, said Efferth describing the next steps.

'/>"/>

Contact: Dr. Sibylle Kohlstdt s.kohlstaedt@dkfz.de 49-622-142-2843 Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres Source:Eurekalert

0 GOOD

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Task Force Recommends Against Screening for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Using Spirometry
2. In Early Childhood, Continuous Care by One Doctor Improves Delivery of Health Screenings
3. In early childhood, continuous care by 1 doctor improves delivery of health screenings
4. Zebrafish provide useful screening tool for genes, drugs that protect against hearing loss
5. Newborn Screening Suggests Decline in Cystic Fibrosis
6. Microsoft Introduces Patient Safety Screening Tool to Stop Spread of In-Hospital Infections
7. 2008 Womens Heart Health Fair Offers Free Screenings, Advice for Baltimore Women
8. Free Health Screenings Aim to Identify Risk of Heart Disease in Women
9. Signalife & Athletes Foundation Complete Second Mobile Health Screening
10. Express Screening Process Aims to Put Diabetics on the Fast Track to Better Health
11. Appropriate medical screening for antimalarials vital to US military personnel