Researchers hope to have made a cancer breakthrough with its roots in nature after discovering that a tree native to the UAE could help the body to stem the spread of the disease.
The yusor tree has been a supportive presence in the region for hundreds of years, providing traditional medicines and a fruitful supply of oil for the ancient Egyptians and Jordan’s Bedouin.
Now the tree — known scientifically as Moringa peregrina — could be a key resource in the modern age because of its potential cancer cell-killing properties.
During laboratory tests, researchers at UAE University in Al Ain found that extracts of the tree were able to prevent breast cancer cells and colon cancer cells from proliferating. The extracts also killed the cancer cells.
One extract from leaves and stems was described by the researchers in the journal Horticulturae as showing a “remarkable” ability to prevent cells proliferating and to cause apoptosis, a programmed form of cell death.
The tests were carried out on cancer cell lines, which are populations of cells, originally derived from human tumours, that proliferate when grown in the laboratory.
“From this current work, it can be concluded that Moringa peregrina possesses strong anti-cancerous activity against breast cancer cells and colon cancer cells, which might be due to the presence of promising anti-cancer compounds in the tuber, leaves and stem of the plant,” the researchers wrote.
Study shows great promise
Dr Abdul Jaleel, an associate professor at UAE University and the study’s senior author, said extensive work went into the study.
“We did the study using various parts of the plant extracted with different solvents to understand the effects of all portions of the plant, and almost all extracts showed the effectiveness, but the chloroform extracts showed tremendous activity against the growth of the cancer cells,” he said.
The scientists carried out the research, which was supported by a grant from UAEU, because a related tree, Moringa oleifera, has previously been found to have anticancer properties.
To further understand the anti-cancer properties of Moringa peregrina, the various chemicals in the extracts need to be separated and analysed.
“To identify the compounds in the crude extract or the fraction will help to identify which compound or group of compounds impacts on the death of the cancer cells. Clinical studies are also required after the isolation of the particular compound,” said Prof Ayesha Al Dhaheri, another lead author in the UAEU study.
Exciting possibilities for research
According to Prof Michael Heinrich, a University College London professor of ethnopharmacology and pharmacognosy (the study of medicinal plants), who is not connected to the new study, “many plant extracts” show an ability to combat cancer cells in the laboratory.
“What will come out of it we don’t know yet, but it’s an interesting starting point — exciting and relevant,” he said of the new research.
“It is not yet a study which can result in therapeutic uses of Moringa peregrina, but one that offers possible leads for future research.”
He said there was wide interest across the globe, including in the Middle East, in researching “bioactive” compounds found in plants.
As reported previously in The National, efforts have been made in the UAE to develop methods to propagate the yusor tree, which could help to preserve a species that has faced pressure from overgrazing and development.
Plants contain a “rich diversity” of chemical substances, said Dr Veronique Seidel, who leads the Natural Products Drug Discovery Group at the University of Strathclyde Glasgow in the UK.
Some, known as secondary metabolites because they are not directly involved in how the plant grows, develops and reproduces, may influence the growth of neighbouring plants, attract pollinators or protect against herbivores, pests and pathogens.
“These secondary metabolites have naturally evolved to interact with biological targets,” said Dr Seidel, who also was not connected to the UAE study.
“This explains why they are exploited for the discovery and development of new medicines, including anti-cancer drugs.”
She said that many plant secondary metabolites were able, simultaneously, to target different mechanisms involved in cancer formation, growth and invasion.
“They have been reported to activate normal cell defences against carcinogens, reduce the production of growth factors, induce cancer cell death, inhibit the formation of blood vessels required for cancerous tissue growth, as well as reduce cancer-associated inflammation,” Dr Seidel added.
Research reaches key stage
The researchers at UAE University are now trying to isolate and identify the substances that may have anti-cancer properties.
In doing so they are following the lead of many other researchers, because there are numerous medicines derived from plants being used to combat the disease.
A well-known example is the anti-cancer medicine Taxol, also called Paclitaxel, which was isolated from a type of yew tree more than half a century ago and approved for medical use in the early 1990s.
It is given intravenously as a chemotherapy medication against ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, among other types of cancer.
Although first identified from a plant, Taxol is produced “biosynthetically” using cell cultures, as is often the case with medications of plant origin.
In other instances, said Prof Heinrich, actual plant extracts, rather than a single known substance purified from plants, are used to combat disease.
This may be because it is too expensive to extract the individual substance, because the substance is unstable when extracted or because the extract contains many substances that have effects.
“You have a combination of effects — different compounds [in the plant extract] target different compound in the human body,” he said.
As well as plants, many other organisms, including microbes and marine sponges, have also been sources of useful substances.
“This highlights the importance of preserving the natural world for future generations to be able to exploit it treasures,” Dr Seidel said.
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
%3Cp%3E%0DElena%20Rybakina%20(Kazakhstan)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EOns%20Jabeur%20(Tunisia)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EMaria%20Sakkari%20(Greece)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EBarbora%20Krej%C4%8D%C3%ADkov%C3%A1%20(Czech%20Republic)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EBeatriz%20Haddad%20Maia%20(Brazil)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EJe%C4%BCena%20Ostapenko%20(Latvia)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3ELiudmila%20Samsonova%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EDaria%20Kasatkina%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EVeronika%20Kudermetova%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3ECaroline%20Garcia%20(France)%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EMagda%20Linette%20(Poland)%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3ESorana%20C%C3%AErstea%20(Romania)%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EAnastasia%20Potapova%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EAnhelina%20Kalinina%20(Ukraine)%E2%80%AF%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EJasmine%20Paolini%20(Italy)%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Navarro%20(USA)%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3ELesia%20Tsurenko%20(Ukraine)%3Cbr%3ENaomi%20Osaka%20(Japan)%20-%20wildcard%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Raducanu%20(Great%20Britain)%20-%20wildcard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
ENGLAND TEAM
Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (captain), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
MATCH INFO
Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')
Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Key findings
- Over a period of seven years, a team of scientists analysed dietary data from 50,000 North American adults.
- Eating one or two meals a day was associated with a relative decrease in BMI, compared with three meals. Snacks count as a meal. Likewise, participants who ate more than three meals a day experienced an increase in BMI: the more meals a day, the greater the increase.
- People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”.
- Those who turned the eating day on its head to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, did even better.
- But scrapping dinner altogether gave the best results. The study found that the BMI of subjects who had a long overnight fast (of 18 hours or more) decreased when compared even with those who had a medium overnight fast, of between 12 and 17 hours.
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
MANDOOB
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Ali%20Kalthami%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Mohammed%20Dokhei%2C%20Sarah%20Taibah%2C%20Hajar%20Alshammari%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Could%20We%20Be%20More
%3Cp%3EArtist%3A%20Kokoroko%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Brownswood%20Recordings%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
%3Cp%3ECory%20Sandhagen%20v%20Umar%20Nurmagomedov%0D%3Cbr%3ENick%20Diaz%20v%20Vicente%20Luque%0D%3Cbr%3EMichael%20Chiesa%20v%20Tony%20Ferguson%0D%3Cbr%3EDeiveson%20Figueiredo%20v%20Marlon%20Vera%0D%3Cbr%3EMackenzie%20Dern%20v%20Loopy%20Godinez%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETickets%20for%20the%20August%203%20Fight%20Night%2C%20held%20in%20partnership%20with%20the%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20went%20on%20sale%20earlier%20this%20month%2C%20through%20www.etihadarena.ae%20and%20www.ticketmaster.ae.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
