Cancer is like starved Lianen natural from the rainforest acts against aggressive cancer

Highly effective substance found against aggressive tumor cells

Hidden in the Congolese rainforest, an effective cure for cancer could slumber. A German-Japanese research team discovered in rainforest lianas a natural drug that kills cancer cells. The researchers have succeeded in isolating this drug in the laboratory in order to produce a drug for certain types of tumors.

The team led by natural chemist Professor Gerhard Bringmann from the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Würzburg, together with the research group led by Professor Suresh Awale from the Institute of Natural Medicine at Toyama University in Japan, discovered a new substance that is highly effective in combating cancer cells. The active ingredient interrupts the supply of aggressive tumor cells and leaves them virtually starving. The study results have recently appeared in the "Journal of Natural Products".

In the rugged rainforest areas of the Republic of Congo, researchers in a Liana species found a promising drug against aggressive cancer cells. (Image: quickshooting / fotolia.com)

The secret from the jungle

The hard-to-reach Republic of Congo holds many a secret. Over half of the country is covered with dense tropical rainforest. In other areas are extensive wetlands. There is also a sparse infrastructure. Against this backdrop, it quickly becomes clear that not everything has been explored here. Some time ago, researchers in this area discovered a liana species called Ancistrocladus likoko, which contains unusual alkaloid molecules. Now the research team has succeeded in producing an anti-cancer drug from this natural product.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most dangerous cancers

Hardly any tumor disease is as deadly as pancreatic cancer (pancreatic carcinoma). Less than five percent of those affected survive the first five years after diagnosis. The cancer cells are extremely aggressive and multiply rapidly. Of course, fast growth also requires a lot of nutrients and oxygen. To ensure this supply, the cancer cells use a certain signal chain, which is called in professional circles "Akt / mTOR".

Lianen drug starves aggressive cancer cells

The researchers said that the lianic active ingredient from the Congolese rainforest is disrupting the "Akt / mTOR" signal chain. The result: The supply of cancer cells can no longer be ensured; they starve and die. The researchers from Würzburg and Japan have now succeeded for the first time in the precise structure elucidation and isolation of this active substance from the branches of the vine.

From the vine to the cancer drug

The team extracted the alkaloid compounds from ground branches of the liana and separated them by high performance liquid chromatography. Afterwards, the experts analyzed the structure of the alkaloid in a 3D model. The isolated active ingredient they gave the name Ancistrolikokin E3.

Ancistrolikokin E3 prevents metastasis

The new drug Ancistrolikokin E3 showed highly promising results in the laboratory against pancreatic cancer cells. According to the research team, the Lianen drug not only starves cancer cells, it also prevents the formation of metastases and thus the spread of cancer.

Breakthrough in cancer research

Scientists have long been looking specifically for drugs that interrupt the signaling pathways of cancer cells. The study is the first to show that drugs based on inhibition of the "Akt / mTOR" signaling chain are a promising alternative for the development of new anticancer agents. (Vb)