TETFund : Nigerian Researchers at Usumanu Danfodiyo University Discover Plant-Based Compound With Potential to Fight Brain Cancer
TETFund: Nigerian Researchers at Usumanu Danfodiyo University Discover Plant-Based Compound With Potential to Fight Brain Cancer
…RESEARCHERS AT USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY ISOLATE PLANT-BASED COMPOUND SHOWING HIGH EFFICACY AGAINST BRAIN CANCER CELLS
A five-member research team from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has identified active ingredients in a common local plant that demonstrate high efficacy in killing brain cancer cells during preliminary laboratory trials.
The groundbreaking discovery, spearheaded in part by a female lead researcher, was showcased at a recent national innovation exhibition in Abuja highlighting Nigerian solutions to health and development challenges.
Initial breakthroughs occurred during testing at a research laboratory in the United States, where extracts from the Nigerian plant effectively destroyed targeted brain cancer cell lines (in vitro).
Following those results, the team secured TETFund funding from TETFund National Research Fund Grant to isolate the specific active chemical constituents responsible for the anti-cancer properties.
Beyond brain cancer, the team expanded its screening to evaluate the compound’s effectiveness against other malignancies, including leukemia, cervical cancer, and breast cancer. Subsequent long-term toxicity evaluations on animal models (in vivo) indicated that the plant extract maintains a moderately safe profile with manageable toxicity levels over extended periods of administration.
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While current standard treatments for brain cancer rely heavily on surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, this potential drug candidate offers a prospective complementary or targeted therapy derived from indigenous flora.
The project has not yet entered human clinical trials. The researchers emphasized that work is currently focused on securing patent protection, refining the active pharmaceutical formulation, and preparing the compound for advanced clinical development phases.
The coming months will be critical as the team seeks further support and regulatory pathways to transition their laboratory discovery into a viable clinical drug
