Tangerine peel could help in the fight against certain cancers, researchers said on Wednesday. Human cancer cells, which contain an enzyme called P450 CYP1B1, were destroyed by a compound contained in tangerine peel, Salvestrol Q40, scientists at Leicester School of Pharmacy found.
The findings may offer a new approach to uncovering a treatment for cancers such as breast, lung, prostrate and ovarian cancer, the scientists said. Medicinal chemist Dr. Hoon L. Tan said: "It is very exciting to find a compound in food that can target cancers specifically. "Salvestrols may offer a new mechanism of dietary anti-cancer action.
蜜桔果皮可以防治多種癌癥。據(jù)悉,人類癌癥細(xì)胞中包含了一種被稱為P450 CYP1B1的酵素,這種成分可以被蜜桔果皮中所包含的化學(xué)物質(zhì)Salvestrol Q40破壞掉。該項(xiàng)研究成果是由來自蘭凱斯特大學(xué)的藥學(xué)院發(fā)現(xiàn)并對外公布的。
這項(xiàng)研究成果將有助于科學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn)治療多種癌癥的方法,其中包括乳腺癌,肺癌以及卵巢癌等多種頑疾。藥物化學(xué)博士洪•L•譚表示:“這種食物中某種特別抑癌成分的發(fā)現(xiàn)是十分令人振奮的。癌癥細(xì)胞中Salvestrols的這種特性將為人類提供食療抑癌并治療癌癥的新方向。”據(jù)研究人員表示,該項(xiàng)研究仍處于早期階段并面臨多項(xiàng)深入研究與測試。在未來的5-7年內(nèi),有望實(shí)現(xiàn)臨床醫(yī)療使用。