Scientists at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai have developed two anti-cancer drugs from the fruit extract of the Rampatri plant. These medicines can be used to destroying tumors and reviving cells damaged by radiation.

Rampatri plant or Myristica malabarica belongs to the Myristicaceae family. Rampatri plant, which is used as a spice in foods, belongs to the Myristicaceae family and is found in western coastal region of the country.

The medicines made from this plant were tested on mice and were found to be effective in treating lung cancer and neuroblastoma, a rare cancer found in children. The cancer cells affect the nerve cells of the adrenal glands, neck, chest and spinal cord during neuroblastoma.

In neuroblastoma, cancer cells grow in nerve cells of adrenal glands, neck, chest and spinal chord. The medicines were developed by Dr B Shankar Patro, scientist of Radiation Biology and Health sciences at BARC.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com, biospectrumindia.com, dnaindia.com