Wednesday, May 13, 2026Aggregating 2,418 sources · Updated 38 seconds agoNYC 54° · LON 47° · TOK 61°
Science

A rare cancer-fighting plant compound has been decoded

SD·2h ago·3 min read
Photograph via Science Daily
RSS SUMMARY · AGGREGATED FROM SD

Scientists at UBC Okanagan have uncovered how plants produce mitraphylline, a rare natural compound with promising anti cancer potential. The team identified two enzymes that work together to build the molecule’s unusual twisted structure, solving a mystery that had puzzled researchers for years. Because mitraphylline appears only in tiny amounts in tropical plants like kratom and cat’s claw, the discovery could make it far easier to produce sustainably in the future.

Scientists at UBC Okanagan have uncovered how plants produce mitraphylline, a rare natural compound with promising anti cancer potential. The team identified two enzymes that work together to build the molecule’s unusual twisted structure, solving a mystery that had puzzled researchers for years. Because mitraphylline appears only in tiny amounts in tropical plants like kratom…

Scientists at UBC Okanagan have uncovered how plants produce mitraphylline, a rare natural compound with promising anti cancer potential. The team identified two enzymes that work together to build the molecule’s unusual twisted structure, solving a mystery that had puzzled researchers for years. Because mitraphylline appears only in tiny amounts in tropical plants like kratom and cat’s claw, the discovery could make it far easier to produce sustainably in the future.

Continue Reading

The full story continues on Science Daily.

Story Sentry shows a short summary aggregated via RSS. The complete article — original photography, charts, and reporting — lives with the publisher.