When people first hear the word 'tumor,' they will think about cancer and its effects. Although there are types of tumors that can lead to cancer, it is not necessarily synonymous with the disease. Tumors are abnormal inflammation or swelling that is caused by extreme cell growth and cell division. It can be benign, pre-malignant, or malignant.
Tumors will be eradicated in a breeze in the near future.
Scientists and medical researchers all over the world spend years of research to combat the growth of tumors and prevent it from becoming dangerous. In Brazil, scientists have been successful in extracting anti-inflammatory alkaloids from a plant native to the Amazon rainforests.
The research team from the University of Ribeirao Preto and Federal University of Sao Carlo brought into focus the two species of Cat's Claw and harnessed its alkaloids to produce a more potent weapon against tumors. The two species of Cat's Claw -- Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis -- contain spiro-oxindole alkaloids, which showed promising therapeutic potential. These plants are lianas or woody vines under family Rubiaceae that are native to the tropical forests of South and Central America. These plants, specifically the root bark, are often used in traditional medicine and thus inspired researchers to discover the full potential of its efficacy.
Biosynthesis is the key to enhance therapeutic efficacy in alkaloids
These plants underwent a precursor directed biosynthesis for the scientists to obtain the oxindole alkaloid. Alkaloids are organic compounds usually found in plants, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. Most alkaloids contain medical properties. The methodology used by the researchers is doing some modifications in the structure of the alkaloid present from the plant. This produced new alkaloids called 6-fluoro-isomitraphylline (substituting one hydrogen to fluorine, making it a three hydrogen group with one fluorine) and 7-methyl-isomitraphylline, which underwent the same substitution process only this time, methyl was used instead of fluorine.
In explaining their methodology, Adriana Aparecida Lopes, one of the authors of the study, said in the abstract that the plant does the synthesis. "I provide it with an analogous key intermediate precursor, which is captured and inserted into its metabolic route, forming a new alkaloid." She also called it "green chemistry" because they did not use and solvent.
The plants used for the experiment were grown for at least 30 days, then the extraction process begins. These extracts will then undergo different types of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry for the researchers to identify which substances are present in the extract according to the ions. After these tests, isolation of the alkaloid properties will commence undergoing another chromatography.
In the experiment, the modified alkaloid analogs (those that are inserted with fluorine and methyl) are analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy sort of like getting confirmation of their chemical structure. This process obtains an approximate of one to two million milligrams of new alkaloids.
The research was considered to be promising, if not groundbreaking. It was made possible with the help from the Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP through their Young Investigator Grant. The organization also encouraged the continuation of this project with help from the National Council of State Funding Agencies, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, and the European Research Council.
