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Plant Hormones in the Fight against Cancer
By Hwaa Irfan 27/06/2001
Allah (swt) equipped plants with hormones, which are modified by their environmental conditions. These modifications include the rate of cell growth and differentiation acting in co-ordination with the vast range of environmental inputs (HCS, p.1). It is this ability that scientists hope to tap into in their search for a cure for cancer. It is plant hormones that work to form these defense mechanisms - metabolites. Western scientists once considered metabolites useless by-products and only began paying attention to secondary metabolites the 1990's. However, Muslim geologist and geographer, al-Biruni, was fully aware of nature's creative adaptations when he wrote in his
'Chronology of Ancient Nations.'' He claimed that the Vis Naturalis (the creative power of Nature), in all it is inspired and commissioned to carry out, never drops any material unused, and if it meets with such and if there is abundance of material, the Vis Naturalis redoubles its creative work (Nasr p.122).
Metabolites are essential in the plant's fight against bacteria, fungi, viruses and predators (Swerdlow, p.3) and can also be useful in man's fight against the same diseases. In fact, British scientists have now harnessed metabolites to help in the fight against cancer. Scientists at the Cancer Research Campaign (CRC - a leading scientific charity) used fragments of the plant hormone
indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) in combination with the plant enzyme peroxidase, which in early laboratory tests produced toxic by-products that destroyed cancerous tumors without harming healthy cells (Reuters, p.1). The treatment, now patented by CRC, utilizes a synthetic form of IAA, because this is commercially cheaper and more stable (HCS, p.2). Peroxidase was extracted from the common-garden horseradish plant, which triggers the release of the toxic by-products of IAA to destroy tumors.
Though yet to be tested on animals and humans, results showed a 99% mortality rate with various types of cancer cells. The toxic by-product is directed into cancerous cells using antibodies to the tumor cells linked to the enzymes. This link-up is nothing new to herbalists who know that within the vast world of vegetation, the differing parts of plants tune to specific illnesses and imbalances. "We're really excited that a common or garden plant hormone could fulfill one of the ultimate aims of cancer research, by providing a drug that only attacks cells and leaves the rest of the body untouched," said Professor Peter Wardman of the Gray Cancer Institute in Britain (Reuters, p.2).
Auxins are the generic name for the group of plant hormones that IAA belongs to. IAA is the only naturally occurring
auxin (HCS, p.1). Peroxidase has been used as a catalyst in the breakdown of peroxides that are involved in the resistance of plants to disease (Agrobiologicals, p.1). The CRC scientists used the horseradish enzyme because it is easy to extract, cheap and is well studied. It breaks-down IAA molecules into smaller chemicals which react with other molecules in the body to produce the toxins (Reuters, p.2). The enzyme has been extracted from the plant root and used as an oxidizer in chemical tests such as glucose determinations. As an old household remedy, horseradish has been used for fevers and influenza, to stimulate the digestive process, to ease colic and halt urinary infections (Hoffman, p.201). As a vegetable it has been grated, minced and mixed with vinegar, salt etc. to add flavor and make sauces and relishes (Gaertin, p.1).
In 1998, the United States Dept. of Agriculture's (USDA) plant biochemist, Franck Dayan, made
chlorins by combining peroxidase and a chemical derivative of chlorophyll in making a cancer drug. He explains, "Because cancer cells grow 10 times faster than healthy cells, they take in much more of the drug than healthy cells. After a few days a physician shines a red laser light in the tumor. Nearly all healthy cells are transparent to the red light and are unaffected. But the chlorin molecules in the tumor cells are energized by red light and produce free radical oxygen molecules that destroy them," (Dayan, p.1, 2).
The continued fight against cancer will not be an easy one, as the cause is still generally unknown. It takes both diseased cells and the failure of the immune system to create a cancer. And once cancer hits the body it can be further destabilized by the effect of potential carcinogens on an already unstable body. However, the legacy of nature that Allah (swt) has given us in the form of plant hormones is what may in fact help us treat these diseases more effectively.
Sources:
Agrobiologicals.com. "Peroxidase." Agrobiologicals.com. 21/6/01.
ARS. "Horseradish Enzyme Could Help Make Anti-Cancer Drugs." ARS-USDA. 6/21/01.
Gaertn, P., B. Mey. & Scherb. "Horseradish." FactSheet 6/21/01.
HCS. (Hort & Crop Science). "Plant Hormones." HCS. 21/6/01.
Hoffman, David. "The Holistic Herbal." Britain: Element Books. 1988.
Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. "Islamic Cosmological Doctrines." Britain: Thames & Hudson Ltd. 1978.
Reuters. "British Scientists Working Toward Targeted Tumor Treatment." Reuters Health. 6/16/01.
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