Drug against lung cancer obtained from tropical plants

Scientists of the National University of Science and Technology MISiS obtained zinc oxide nanorods that inhibit cancer cells' growth as part of an international group of researchers, Report says, citing RIA Novosti.

According to experts, the created nanorods are unique, as they are obtained without the participation of toxic substances using an extract from a tropical plant's leaves.

Scientists could attain nanorods to treat lung cancer from zinc acetate, without using toxic substances, using an extract from the leaves of the plant Cyrtrandroemia nicobarica, growing in the humid rainforests of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India.

Experts note that today zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NR) are actively used in treating various diseases: to inject drugs into diseased human organs and get an image of the affected areas of the body. They have an antibacterial effect and are particularly useful in suppressing cancer cells' growth, damaging their cell membrane.

According to experts, the study confirmed that targeted treatment of lung cancer based on nanotechnology is possible using non-toxic ZnO nanorods formed from the selected plant extract.

The study involved specialists from the K. S. Rangasamy College of Arts and Sciences (Tamil Nadu, India) and the Seoul National University of science and technology (Republic of Korea).