Plant natual chemicals or natural small molecules and lectins are important in the defense of plants and also as antitumor agents. We are currently collecting and investigating plants collected from the tropical forests of the Amazon, Caribbean and the desert lands of Mexico for novel metabolites. Prelimainary findings indicate that sesquiterpene lactones and glycosidic proteins from medicinal plants induce apoptosis in cultured breast cancer cells and cancer stem cells. Further research is underway to better understand the mechanism of action of the novel metabolites from plants.

All human populations are afected by cancer, with women, especially minority women, suffering from breast cancer. Our deep interest in health disparities (cancer and diabetes) has always been a major concern and the use of natural therapies to contol cancer growth.

Support from NIH has provided funds for supporting Dr. Maria Laux and two graduate students (Jill Chavez and Tyi MyCray) to collect and analyze plants for novel lectins and small molecules. We have also contracted with a private company DEOBIOSCIENCES to isolate and identify a novel lectin with anticancer activity that was isolated from spider egg stem cells. Undergraduates are also trained on culturing cancer cells and testing of the natural products.

The major impact of our research is the training of undergraduate, graduate students and postodoctoral fellows in cancer biology and medicinal plant chemistry. It is too early to determine if any of the discoveries will be developed as new anticancer pharmaceuticals.

Medicinal Plants and Pharmaceuticals

NIH and NSF