Researchers from Nagaland University discover the anti-cancer potential of a traditional Konyak tribe herbal formulation.
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DIMAPUR — Researchers from Nagaland University (NU), Berhampur University, and Saveetha Medical College have claimed to have identified the anti-cancer potential of a traditional herbal formulation used by the Konyak tribe of Nagaland in a preliminary investigation.
In a press statement, the university maintained that while traditional medicinal systems are widely practised across indigenous communities, the researchers found that there has been limited scientific effort to understand the mechanisms through which such remedies exert their therapeutic effects.
The study attempts to bridge this gap by combining traditional knowledge with modern analytical and computational approaches. The multi-institute research team investigated a five-plant polyherbal formulation and found that its bioactive compounds can effectively target VEGFR2, a key protein responsible for tumour blood vessel growth.
The findings were published in the Microchemical Journal, a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes research on analytical methods and techniques for detecting and measuring chemical substances at micro and trace levels.
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The paper was co-authored by Longnyu M Konyak, Giridharan Bupesh, Parthasarathy Sudharsan, Nokenketla Jamir, and Sidhartha Saikia from the Department of Forestry, Nagaland University, along with collaborators from Berhampur University and Saveetha Medical College.
Jagadish K Patnaik, Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University, lauded the team and stated, "By integrating indigenous knowledge with advanced molecular simulations, the study identifies promising compounds that match the efficacy of existing drugs while indicating lower toxicity."
Dr. G Bupesh, Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry, Nagaland University, highlighted the uniqueness of the study and stated, "This is the first time a specific five-plant formulation used by the Konyak tribal healers has been scientifically analysed and validated using advanced computational methods."
The study further revealed that these compounds demonstrated stable interactions and favourable safety profiles, indicating their potential as natural anti-angiogenic agents that could inhibit tumour growth. The research also showed that these natural compounds selectively target VEGFR2 over similar proteins, which could help reduce side effects in future therapeutic applications.
While the findings are currently based on computational analysis, the researchers stressed the need for further laboratory and clinical studies to validate these results, particularly in the context of colon cancer treatment.