Researchers from the Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (RGPV), Bhopal, have claimed the discovery of two anticancer molecules from turmeric, which they say will be able to kill cancer cells without causing side-effects.
RGPV vice-chancellor Piyush Trivedi and his doctoral student Dr C Karthikeyan claimed that the discovery of the anti-cancer molecules, code-named CTR-17 and CTR-20, could lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of several types of cancers for which currently available clinical drugs have proven ineffective. This discovery comes after working on the antiseptic and healing properties of turmeric for 12 years, they said.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Trivedi, who is also a pharmacist, said, “At a time when studies are suggesting a rapid increase in the incidence of cancer in India, this discovery could bring a revolution in cancer treatment. RGPV is the first university with a world-class laboratory where this discovery has taken place. We have also filed for a US patent of the discovery of the new anti-cancer molecules.”
“My team at RGPV, in collaboration with Dr Hoyun Lee’s team at Advanced Medical Research Institute in Canada, worked on the discovery. A US provisional patent application has been officially filed to protect the intellectual property rights and also aid the successful translation of the discovered molecules to clinical trials because in the findings of pre-clinical trials, we have noticed excellent effects,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}“My team at RGPV, in collaboration with Dr Hoyun Lee’s team at Advanced Medical Research Institute in Canada, worked on the discovery. A US provisional patent application has been officially filed to protect the intellectual property rights and also aid the successful translation of the discovered molecules to clinical trials because in the findings of pre-clinical trials, we have noticed excellent effects,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}The molecules elicit anti-cancer activity that obstructing cancer cell division as they inhibit a protein which is necessary for several cellular functions, Dr Karthikeyan explained. Unlike other drugs with inhibitors that also cause severe adverse effects and are prone to resistance development in the patients, CTR-17 and CTR-20 are effective against multi-drug resistant cancer cells, he said, adding that studies have also shown that the molecules increase the life-span of lab animals affected with the tumours.