Lessertia frutescens, commonly known as cancer bush.
A plant used in traditional medicine is now centre stage of research at the North West University that could shape the future of cancer treatment.
Researchers from the university are investigating the anti-cancer potential of Lessertia frutescens, commonly known as cancer bush.
This comes after laboratory studies had shown activity against several forms of cancer, including drug-resistant small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer.
Research professor in the Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Crisna Gouws, said the research team tested extracts from the indigenous plant on cultured human cancer cells and more advanced laboratory-grown ‘mini tumours’ known as spheroids.
