Liver cancer breakthrough as researchers replicate guava's healing molecules

"The breakthrough comes from a process called natural product total synthesis, where scientists recreate complex molecules found in nature using lab-based methods. Chain's team developed a low-cost, scalable way to produce these guava compounds, which were previously difficult to obtain in large quantities. "The majority of clinically approved medicines are either made from a natural product or are based on one," Chain explained."

"In the U.S. alone, more than 42,000 people will be diagnosed in 2025, and more than 30,000 will die from it. Current treatments are expensive, often costing billions annually, and many patients run out of options. But now, a team led by William Chain, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has found a way to synthesize guava-derived molecules that show promise in combating these aggressive cancers."

Researchers at the University of Delaware developed a lab-based synthetic pathway to produce cancer-fighting molecules originally found in guava plants. The synthesized guava-derived compounds show promise against aggressive liver cancers, addressing a disease with late-stage survival under 15% and tens of thousands of U.S. cases annually. The method uses natural product total synthesis to recreate complex molecules, enabling low-cost, scalable production previously limited by natural resource scarcity. The approach aims to make treatments more affordable and widely available. Collaboration with the National Cancer Institute will expand testing against other cancer types. The result demonstrates that nature-based treatments can rival synthetic drugs without exclusive corporate control.

Read at Natural Health News