|
Anti-Cancer Compound Found in Malaysian
Plant.
Mon Jul 22,11:42 AM ET
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Research has shown that a Malaysian
jungle plant widely believed to be an aphrodisiac could also be
effective against cancer and HIV ( news
- web
sites), a newspaper reported on Sunday.
The New Sunday Times said early results from a study conducted by
a Malaysian government-sponsored agency and the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology ( news
- web
sites) found that some chemical constituents of the "tongkat
ali" plant show potent anti-cancer and anti-HIV activity.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS ( news
- web
sites).
Forest Research Institute Malaysia director-general Abdul Razak
Mohd Ali was quoted by the newspaper as saying that initial
laboratory work had shown that the chemical constituents could be
more effective than existing anti-cancer drugs.
Tongkat ali, scientifically known as Eurycoma longifolia, is
reputed to boost the male sex drive, and villagers have long used it
to improve blood circulation and cure skin diseases.
Malaysia last year patented the plant, which also grows in
Thailand and Indonesia, to give the country a big push into the
herbal medicine industry.
Another Malaysian-US study had also shown that the bintangor tree
found in Malaysia's eastern state of Sarawak is a source of an
anti-AIDS compound--calonolide. It is currently undergoing clinical
trials in the United States.
 |
- Sign
In
My Yahoo!
