Mahasiswa UGM Manfaatkan Bunga Telang Untuk Hambat Kanker Payudara
Mahasiswa UGM Manfaatkan Bunga Telang Untuk Hambat Kanker Payudara
Three UGM students made use of bluebellvine (Clitoria ternatea) as medicine to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.
“Bluebellvine has flavonoids like kaempferol and quercetin that has the potential as anticancer medicine,” said one of the researchers, Azzahra Asysifa, in a release received on Thursday (16/5).
The medical student along with fellow students Achmad Ilham Nurgina (medical) dan Andiny Aguningtyas (pharmacy) researched into how the flavonoid extract of the flower can kill cancer cells and inhibit the migration of breast cancer cells. They did the research for Student Creativity Programme UGM 2019 under the guidance of Dr. dr. Eti Nurwening Sholikhah, M.Kes .
Azzahra said they had been concerned with the breast cancer case which is the main cause of fatalities due to cancer in over 100 countries. In 2018 reportedly there were 2.1 million new cases.
“Even scientists predicted in 2050 the prevalence will reach as high as 3.2 million new cases each year,” he said.
Despite the various cancer treatments currently, these have caused side-effects that can reduce the quality of life of the patient. Hence, targeted therapy is developed to target the genetical or molecular disorders, which do not harm the normal cells.
The students started by targeting the BCL-2 and VEGF genes which have the role in the development and migration of cancer cells.
“The results are expected to be the milestones of targeted therapy development that may replace chemotherapy by utilising herbal resources,” she concluded.