Cancer cure?
The following was sent by my e-pal in South Africa. Thought I’d share it
here.
Jan
Cape bushwillow tree cures cancer (March 31, 2000)
The Daily Mail & Guardian reports that the bark from the Cape
bushwillow tree, which is indigenous to the Eastern Cape, might be the
cure for cancer the whole world has been waiting for.
The report states that a United States researcher in 1987 isolated
small organic molecules called combretastatins from the bark of the
Cape bushwillow tree. Now, after more than 10 years of research,
development and trials, this work has culminated in the
combretastatins being transformed into a cancer-busting drug called
Combretastatin. The drug is expected to be released on the market
within the next four years.
According to the article, Combretastatin’s method of attack differs
radically from traditional approaches to treating cancer. Most cancer
drugs attack the cells in a tumor directly, causing severe damage to
both healthy and malignant cells and causing unpleasant side effects
for the patient. Combretastatin, however, targets the network of blood
vessels that sustain life in the tumour instead, effectively cutting
off its blood supply. It only attacks the blood vessels that feed the
tumours, leaving the healthy vessels intact.