Specialists from the Center for Research in Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology and the Multidisciplinary Institute of Plant Biology, both dependent on the National University of Córdoba and Conicet, have found a plant capable of blocking cells that have a specific mutated gene (called BRAC2) and They are responsible by the appearance of different types of cancer associated with the colon, breast, ovary and prostate. Thanks to this discovery, new drugs and therapies can be created to treat tumors that are resistant to current treatments.
The plant, known for its toxicity as ‘busting horses‘, It is present in much of the country, but is popular in the mountains of Córdobawhere it grows in the shade and can be seen near the corrals.
Scientists discovered that it contains a substance called solanocapsin and can isolate cells with the mutated gene.. Based on the good initial results, they identified that it is necessary to block an enzyme called deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) to selectively kill cancer cells.
Starting with solanocapsin, the researchers developed a more active, more selective and less toxic molecule in the laboratory. In this way, they propose an alternative for cancer patients who have the BRAC2 gene mutated and are not successful with currently available therapies.
Thanks to this discovery, new drugs and therapies can be developed to treat tumors that appear when the BRAC2 gene undergoes mutations.. Although there is already a treatment (called ‘PARP inhibitors’) to combat these mutations, cases of resistance to the compound have been reported. In addition, the alternative proposed by the Córdoba researchers has fewer side effects on people.
The tests carried out on different types of mutations were successful and everything indicates that ‘horse busting’ can become a good alternative. While each tumor is unique, scientists have developed a mechanism to kill mutated cells that escape the drugs currently used.
Solanocapsin was chosen by the researchers out of over 60 compounds that were tested for mutated cells. Another piece of good news is that, studies have revealed, Not only is it useful for treating cancer, but it also works as an antibacterial and inhibits an enzyme linked to Alzheimer’s disease..