Novel Plant Derived Drug Candidates

Filed in archive Biotech/Science Blogs , Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics , Food and Agriculture on July 6, 2006

Straight from the Doc highlights two plants which could be potential sources of novel drugs:

Cranberries as source of lead compounds against dental caries

...scientists have discovered that cranberry contains several antioxidants (flavonoids) (e.g., quercetin and myricetin), phenolic acids (benzoic acid), anthocyanins, condensed tannins (among others) that show the ability to counteract the damaging effects of the bacterium Streptococcus mutans.

Hibiscus, as an anti-cholesterol (particularly against LDL)

The result of the study is suggesting that a dietary hibiscus anthocyanin supplements might be considered as potential protective atherosclerosis (hardening or furring of blood vessels) agents against chronic cardiovascular diseases.

From Future Pundit comes another potential plant-based therapeutic: Pomegranate Juice Against Cancer

Drinking an eight ounce glass of pomegranate juice daily increased by nearly four times the period during which PSA levels in men treated for prostate cancer remained stable, a three-year UCLA study has found.

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