Recently, a Chinese herb is being branded as a potent cancer cell killer. According to studies published at Life Sciences, this herb can kill up to 98% of cancer cells in just 16 hours. Artemisinin is a plant derived from wormwood is used in Chinese medicine. The plant can reduce breast cancer cells by 28% but if paired with Iron, it can eliminate mostly of the cancer cells.
In its previous efficacy, it has been used as an anti-malarial herb that can quickly reduce the number of Plasmodium parasites in the blood of patients with malaria. In fact, the World Health Organization is recommending this herb to treat malaria. However, history tells that this herb was used over 2000 years ago to treat malaria. It was not until the 1970s that the recipe was dug in a tombstone and its efficacy was once again tested.
The structure of artemisinin has a peroxide lactone group and when combined with high amounts of Iron which are common in cancer cells, it will release reactive oxygen species which alters angiogenesis.
The good thing about this herb is that it specifically targets the bad or cancer cells and leaves the good cells unharmed. Unlike other cancer treatments, even the good cells are targeted, hence severe side effects emerge.
The reason is that, cancer cells have high amounts of Iron because they have special receptors called transferin receptors. It aids the cell during division. Good cells have this receptor but in lesser amounts. Hence, the combination of iron and artemisinin will attack them.
This herb promotes apoptosis wherein cancer cells self-destruct. However, the herb is still rare and hard to obtain at a cheap price. The growing interest in this herb will hopefully make it more accessible to more individuals with cancer. Now, French drug company Sanofi is expected to make about 60 tons of artemisinin every year in order to cope with the demands of its growing market.