Date: 08/03/2021

Source: Hiroshima University

Summary: An international team of researchers found that A.virginicus extract is effective against several diseases, including diabetes and cancer.

Native to the southeastern United States, a weed that grows northward to Canada and simultaneously to Australia and Japan. Andropogon virginicus grows densely in layers and is about 2 meters high, hindering the growth process and competing for the resources of other plants. When burned to remove them they grow back even stronger. Therefore, there is almost no effective way to get rid of weeds once they have taken root. But it also benefits people.

An international team of researchers has found that extracts from A. virginicus are effective against a number of human diseases, including diabetes and cancer. The research results were published on December 31, 2020, in a special topic related to “Plant” with title “Biological activity of plant extracts.”

“A. virginicus is a potentially invasive weed that poses a threat to agricultural production and economies worldwide.” Speech editor Tran Dang Xuan, associate professor of engineering and transdisciplinary science program at Hiroshima University of Science and Technology. “However, it has not been found how to use and treat this weed effectively. In this paper, we highlight the potential of products extracted from A.virginicus for future medical industry and therapies for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and blood cancer, it can help with both crop protection and human health.”

The researchers detected large amounts of Flavonoids in samples extracted from weeds. These phytochemicals contain significant amounts of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, according to Xuan. When tested with multiple cell lines, the chemicals extracted from them were able to attach to free radicals to help fight damage to cells. On the skin, they can minimize wrinkles by inhibiting a protein called tyrosinase. What’s more, this link may help block the cellular activities that potentially lead to type 2 diabetes.

The team also used the substance against a cell line that causes chronic myeloid leukemia, a rather rare cancer. This extract can kill cancer cells.

Xuan said the researchers plan to publish the complete process for the extraction and purification of the chemically active compounds mentioned above, as well as on new methods of use. They will further consider the therapeutic effects of drugs with the ultimate goal of being functional foods for human use.

“Although A. virginicus is a highly invasive plant with no ecological significance, its extracts provide a source of antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-tyrosine, and anti-tumor cells,” Mr. Xuan said.

StorySource:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210308094320.htm

Materials provided by Hiroshima University.

References

La Hoang Anh, Nguyen Van Quan, Vu Quang Lam, Yu Iuchi, Akiyoshi Takami, Rolf Teschke, Tran Dang Xuan. Antioxidant, Anti-tyrosinase, Anti-α-amylase, and Cytotoxic Potentials of the Invasive Weed Andropogon virginicus. Plants, 2020; 10 (1): 69 DOI: 10.3390/plants10010069

The article is translated and edited at ykhoa.org, please do not re-up.

Source: ScienceDaily.

Translated by: Kha Nguyen.