Scientists from China and the UK who have established a new Sino-UK joint research centre said they have begun research on how anti-cancer elements from a traditional Chinese herb are produced, to try to develop new health supplements and drugs to help control and fight cancer.

Under the cooperation of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and UK-based John Innes Center (JIC), a joint research center called CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science was established, with participation of three leading institutes from China and UK. It will focus on the improvement of food crops and the production of high-value, beneficial products from plants and microbes, participants have announced.

Of major interest is the herb, Huangqin, or Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating respiratory infections as an anti-inflammatory and heat reducing element. Scientists have also found an anti-cancer effect in its compounds — baicalein and wogonin, but how the two elements compound and metabolize remained unknown.

Through the team from both Shanghai and UK, scientists explained how the two useful compounds are made in Huangqin. “With the discovery, we can introduce the two compounds in other plants to product plants with anti-cancer effects and develop pure supplements and drugs with anti-cancer effects to benefit the public,” said Dr Zhao Qing from the team.

Source: Shanghai Daily