Why the awareness for cancer is on the high, a Nigeria born Scientist is currently developing a cure for cancer that will put an end to the deadly epidemic.
The researcher – Mansurah Abdulazeez who is a molecular biologist at the Center for Biotechnology Research, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria believes her research on the cure for cancer will identify a good number of African plants that can serve as anti-cancer agents.
Over the years, scientists have developed many methods of curing cancer, from Precision medicine to Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Targeted therapy, Hormone therapy, Stem cell transplants, and Surgery.
Cancer which involves abnormal cell growth with the potential of invading or spreading to other parts of the body is a very deadly disease, it includes: Skin cancer, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer, Basal cell cancer, Leukemia, and Lymphoma, etc
Mansurah Abdulazeez developed an interest to identify and document potential anti-cancer African plants that can serve as a cure for cancer in Africa since her undergraduate days. She has won two grants, one from the Government of Spain and the other one from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Nigeria to help her with the project.
She did her undergraduate and postgraduate research on antihypertensive and anticancer activities of African plants at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria.
In a recent interview with the Journal of nature, Mansurah disclosed that she had confirmed the cytotoxic ( drugs used to kill cancer) activities of extracts of the drumstick (Moringa oleifera) and soursop (Annona muricata) trees as well as the native Nigerian shrub Peristrophe bicalyculata on cervical carcinoma and fetal lung carcinoma cell lines.
She noted that many African plants have anticancer potentials that can help in the global fight against cancer. Highlighting Guiera senegalensis locally known as ‘Sabara’ as a good example which is currently being used by traditional African healer to cure diseases.
Mansurah believes her research will be invaluable to knowledge and will be used as a tool to eradicate cancer from the World.