Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have identified a type of molecule that stops cancer cells from multiplying.
That molecule is called Triptolide. It comes from an extract of a traditional Chinese herbal compound called thunder god vine. Although we’ve known about the molecule for decades, it has recently made headlines for its cancer-killing effects.
Want to learn more about the Triptolide Molecule?
Here are 5 fast facts you need to know.
1) Its Triptolide Molecule
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine discovered that tests of triptolide in human cells and mice could reduce the spread of cancer.
These researchers specifically attached triptolide to glucose, which allows the molecule to become more soluble. Researchers described the combination as a “cruise missile” that “preferentially seeks out cancer cells”.
The research was published in the journal Angewandte Chemie and appeared online on August 30. You can view the study online here.
2) It Will Take a Long Time Before It’s Available to Humans
Researchers in the study cautioned that triptolide was far from a sure thing:
“We have a long way to go before we can test this derivative of triptolide in humans, and we think that additional adjustments could improve it even more,” said Jun O. Liu, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and molecular sciences at Johns Hopkins. “But it already has the key characteristics we’ve been looking for: it is quite water soluble, and it prefers cancer cells over healthy cells.”
In the future, the compound may be available in the form of an intravenous solution. However, that day is a long ways away.
3) The Molecule Comes from Ancient Chinese Medicine
Jun O. Liu, the professor we just quoted above, comes from a small town north of Shanghai in China. He was initially interested in the molecule after seeing advertisements for thunder god vine across China.
Thunder god vine has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 400 years. It’s typically prescribed to calm an overactive immune system, which can reduce your risk of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
20 years ago, Jun saw a billboard in China advertising thunder god vine as an immuno-suppressant. He looked at the small amount of research available on the compound and figured it was worth a closer look. Jun’s lab specializes in finding scientific evidence behind known healing compounds – like traditional cures and natural medicine.
4) How Triptolide Works
Triptolide halts cell growth, fighting against the deadly multiplication effects of cancer. Five years ago, Jun’s lab discovered that triptolide halts cell growth by interfering with the protein XPB, which is part of the large protein machine transcription factor IIH, which in turn, is needed by the enzyme complex RNA polymerase II to make rNA – the stuff you need to duplicate cells.
That early research was exciting – however, researchers were worried that the results wouldn’t translate to humans because it didn’t dissolve well in water or blood. It also had too many side effects – it indiscriminately killed healthy cells and tumor cells alike.
In this latest study, Jun sought to “train” triptolide to target cancer cells. They attached glucose to the molecule, tricking the cancer cells into “importing” the cell-killing poison while leaving surrounding cells unaffected.
Cancer cells naturally make extra copies of proteins called glucose transporters. These transporters form tunnels through a cell’s membrane to “import” more glucose to fuel rapid growth. The researchers exploited this mechanism to create a cancer-killing molecule.
Ultimately, researchers came up with a solution that could be administered intravenously, remain stable in the blood, and become active as soon as it arrived in cancer cells.
Researchers noticed “sustained antitumor activity” after testing the molecule on human cells and mice. In fact, the compound blocks the growth of all 60 U.S. National Cancer Institute cell lines at very low doses, even causing some of those cell lines to die.
5) Can You Take Thunder God Vine to Fight Cancer?
Based on the research so far, thunder god vine doesn’t specifically have anti-cancer properties. There is some research that shows it can act as an immunosuppressant, which can reduce the harm caused by diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
However, this latest research shows that one specific compound in thunder god vine can kill cancer cells only when attached to a glucose molecule. When the compound is not attached to that molecule, it kills cells indiscriminately.
In any case, the amount of triptolide molecule in an average thunder god vine extract supplement isn’t likely to have a major effect on your body. It’s too small of a dose.
Ultimately, based on this latest research, the triptolide molecule can have enormous anti-cancer benefits by acting as a cruise missile against cancer cells. Stay tuned for more news on this exciting molecule as research moves forward.
