The ultimate goal of this proposed work is to find new naturally occurring active components against cancer and bacteria. Cancer is one of the major causes of death in the U.S. and accounts for 22% of all annual deaths. The discovery of new potential anti-cancer drugs and their mechanism of action can lead to significant progress in the treatment of cancer. Interest in the use of natural products as potential sources of antibacterial agents has increased over the last decade due to an urgent need to identify novel substances active towards pathogens with high resistance. The critical role of medicinal plants is being widely recognized in the biochemical and biomedical world as well as in the pharmaceutical industry. However, scientific knowledge concerning biologically active components in medicinal plants is still in its early stages. For centuries, Native American tribes have used medicinal plants to treat a broad range of diseases. Two plants in particular are currently being used by Native Americans in New Mexico, to treat various types of diseases, including cancer: Ligusticum porteri (Osha), and Anemopsis California (Yerba Manza). Significant research regarding Ligusticum porteri and Anemopsis California is extremely limited. The work proposed in this application focuses on I) screening for possible biologically active components against cancer and bacteria; ii) their structure determination. Soxhlet extractions, cytotoxicity tests, biological activity screening, chromatographic separations, NMR and Mass spectrometry, are techniques that will be utilized to scientifically explore these medicinal plants for anticancer and antibacterial components. Narrative Interest in the use of natural products as potential sources of anticancer and antibacterial agents has increased over the last decade due to an urgent need to identify novel substances active towards cancer and pathogens with high resistance. Biological active components of A. California and L. Porteri might be promising as anticancer and/or antitibiotic agents.

Public Health Relevance

Interest in the use of natural products as potential sources of anticancer and antibacterial agents has increased over the last decade due to an urgent need to identify novel substances active towards cancer and pathogens with high resistance. Biological active components of A. Californica and L. Porteri might be promising as anticancer and/or antitibiotic agents. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Type
Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) (R15)
Project #
1R15AT002888-01A2
Application #
7457608
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAT1-DB (28))
Program Officer
Hopp, Craig
Project Start
2008-04-01
Project End
2011-03-31
Budget Start
2008-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$209,700
Indirect Cost
Name
New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041358904
City
Socorro
State
NM
Country
United States
Zip Code
87801
Kaminski, Catherine N; Ferrey, Seth L; Lowrey, Timothy et al. (2010) In vitro anticancer activity of Anemopsis californica. Oncol Lett 1:711-715