Blushwood Berries Can Destroy Cancer Cells Almost Instantly – Study
A study conducted at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Queensland, Australia has recently shed new light on what could become the next big cancer treatment: the blushwood berries (Hylandia dockrillii). This naturally occurring fruit contains compounds that began killing off cancer cells almost immediately when studied in the laboratory.
Chemotherapy and radiation are toxic and come with harsh side effects, often making the ill feel even more ill. The recent research on this amazing berry could mean new, natural treatments for cancer on the horizon.
Blushwood Berries – Where they come from?
Blushwood berries are the fruit of the blushwood tree, which is known to grow in only one region of the world: the rainforests of Far North Queensland, Australia.
These tropical trees are not found anywhere else on the globe, but grow in abundance near Australia’s northeastern tip.
These particular trees need very niche conditions to thrive—conditions which can only be found in specific portions of Far North Queensland, Australia.
Considering their usefulness as proven by the latest cancer research published in PLOS One, some are wondering if they could be grown in a greenhouse environment, so that people all over the world could benefit from their cancer-killing properties.
Blushwood Berries – What kind of Cancer they eradicate?
The researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, headed by Dr. Glen Boyle, used an experimental drug produced from the seeds of blushwood berries called EBC-46. They used this drug to treat spots of melanoma (the most deadly form of skin cancer) on dogs, cats and horses.
The subjects were diagnosed by veterinarians and given a poor prognosis, most being considered candidates for euthanasia prior to participating in the study.
Amazingly, these animals that had been on death’s door prior to the study had their melanoma tumors disappear after treatment in the lab by Dr. Boyle and his team of scientists.
Tumors were Gone within 48 Hours
When the EBC-46 was injected into the cancerous cells on the subjects, the tumors reacted by turning a dark color, then falling off.
The derivative from the blushwood berry is thought to cut off oxygen supply to the cancer cells, allowing for the removal of tumors without the need for surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
The researchers reported that most of the subjects’ tumors—previously considered a lost cause by veterinarians—were gone within 48 hours of being injected with EBC-46.
Under the microscope, the individual cancer cells began shriveling up and dying within mere moments of coming into contact with the EBC-46.
What the Future of Cancer Treatment Could Be?
The discovery of the effectiveness of EBC-46 is exciting news in the world of cancer treatment.
D.r Boyle says the findings of the pre-clinical trials at QIMR Berghofer suggest the drug could be effective in human patients.
“In most cases the single injection treatment caused the loss of viability of cancer cells within four hours, and ultimately destroyed the tumors.”
Dr. Boyle says EBC-46 works in part by triggering a cellular response which effectively cuts off the blood supply to the tumor. “In more than 70 per cent of pre-clinical cases, the response and cure was long-term and enduring, with very little relapse over a period of 12 months.”
“We must stress at this point that EBC-46 will only be trialed in the short-term for tumors which can be accessed by direct injection or topical application,” Dr Boyle said.
“There is no evidence to suggest EBC-46 would be effective against metastatic cancers.”
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