In the last two decades, more than 50% of new medicines that we have in pharmacies are of biological origin, mainly from plants. They are becoming more worldwide scientific studies aimed at locating anti-tumour agents in plants. Taking into account that have been studied for these purposes between 7% and 10% of the 250,000 species of plants existing, it seems clear that they caven expect surprising findings in the future. The team of research in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II and pharmacology of the Faculty of pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid, currently evaluates fractions of essential oils from plants of the family Labitae (lavender, mint, Rosmarinus and Sage) to determine its activity cytotoxic and the desirability of its subsequent application in cancer treatments. As it cannot be otherwise, in spite of this study reveals the cytotoxic activity and antioxidant of the Sage, the research team must perform scans in vitro before a possible application in vivo in addition to other tests that will determine the real benefits in cancer treatment.
No doubt is a long way to go, but thanks to this team led by Dr. Maria Isabel Sanchez Reus suspect that future generations of drugs, will face look to this terrible disease and who knows if to overcome it will be finally plants our best ally in the fight against cancer? It could be, what is clear is that the majority of scientific explorations going along this path and that scientists involved in them are very optimistic. Just remember what I said at the beginning, today more than 50% of the medicines are made with them..