Flower is the source of miracle Cancer drug
A British flower is the source of a drug that has been designed to help in the fight against cancer. The flower in question is the Autumn Crocus. Research claims the drug coming out of the plant can wipe out tumours in a single treatment with minimal side effects.
Scientists have now turned the chemical which is found in the crocuses into a ‘smart bomb’ which targets the cancer tumours. The most important aspect of this is that the healthy tissue is unharmed which reduces the odds of debilitating side effects.
Also unlike many other side effect-free drugs, it is able to fight more than one disease such as, breast cancer, prostate, lung and bowel cancer.
Potentially all solid tumours are vulnerable to drugs developed this way meaning it could be used against all but the blood cancers.
Some tests of the drug the tumours disappeared completely after one treatment. The drug which is based on colchicine, an extract which comes from the Autumn crocus is at a very early stage of development and so far has only been tested on mice.
Colchicine has long been known to have anti-cancer properties but has always been considered to toxic for the human body. The researchers attached a chemical tail to the treatment deactivating the toxic until it reached the cancer tissue. Once there the tail will then be cut off by an enzyme called MMP, which is found in tumours. Removing the tail will activate the drug which will then attack the cancer tumours.
The first tests on humans could happen in the next 18 months and if successful might be on the market in 6-7 years.