A Chinese herb - more than 2000-year-old-eaten as salad in many countries has been given a new twist to develop a compound to combat cancer. According to researchers at the University of Washington, the new compound is more than 1200 times more specific in killing certain kinds of cancer cells than currently available drugs, and paves the way for more effective chemotherapy drug with minimal side-effects. The compound is based on the common anti-malarial drug artemisinin, which is derived from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua L).
Courtesy: The Times of India, Chennai, Oct.16, 2008 (Short Cuts).
Grateful thanks to The Times of India, Chennai.
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