Neem Tree Extract: Nature’s Potent Weapon to fight Oral Cancer

A motley team of researchers has revealed the remarkable potential of nimbolide, a natural compound found in neem tree leaves, towards targeting cancer cells in a unique and effective manner.

The researchers explain their discovery by imagining cancer cells as beings thriving on captive power plants (which is the mitochondria) and highly efficient stress management systems (by virtue of which they alter metabolic pathways, increase genetic diversity, and reprogram gene expression)

Nimbolide, their research shows, disrupts both these systems. It increases cellular stress by producing reactive molecules like internal rust, as also impacts energy production, ultimately causing the cancer cells to self-destruct.

Unlike many synthetic drugs, nimbolide is a natural extract with a long history of widespread use in traditional medicine, which makes this research unique as it validates some of its traditional uses with modern scientific evidence. The study results are especially significant for the Asian continent, a hotbed in terms of the prevalence and fatality of oral cancer cases.

While more research is imperative to develop the findings into full-fledged therapies, the study indeed offers hope for incorporating nature-based medicines in cancer therapy.

Read all about it below.