Common weeds proven to be potential cancer-fighters

Scientists at the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica said they found some pure compounds in bidens pilosa, crassocephalum crepidioides, and anoectochilus formosanus hayata are able to inhibit tumor metastasis and angiogenesis on rodents.

Shyur Lie-fen, the center’s associate research fellow, explained that the compounds found in bidens pilosa do not kill cancerous cells directly, but repress angiogenesis in cells surrounding the tumor.

On the other hand, Shyur said, the compounds extracted from crassocephalum crepidioides and anoectochilus formosanus hayata have proven effective in eliminating cancer cells. “Melanoma tumors of subject mice were reduced in size after being injected with the compounds,” she added.

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