Extract from the baby's breath flower may improve the efficiency of anti-leukemia drugs

Extract from the baby's breath flower may improve the efficiency of anti-leukemia drugsA British doctor has said that extract from the baby's breath flower may improve the efficiency of anti-leukemia drugs by up to 1 million times.

Dr. David Flavell said of the findings by researchers with Leukemia Busters, the charity he and his wife started following the leukemia death of their son, "I am usually careful about the words I use with things like this but this discovery could truly revolutionize the way these antibody-based drugs work and it will save lives."

He also said, "And this doesn't just apply to leukemia. There is a really big possibility this can be used for many cancers too."

Clinical trials, which could take three to five years, are being prepared, the Sun reported on Thursday.

The British tabloid further said that the researchers say molecules called saponins from Gypsophila paniculata, the small, white-blossomed flower commonly known as baby's breath, appeared in trials to break down the membrane of cancer cells, making it much easier for drugs to attack the cancer.

The Daily Telegraph quoted Flavell as saying, "This is a potentially very important discovery that could allow us to kill leukemia cells in the patient much more effectively with much lower doses of immunotoxin. The challenge now is to establish how best to apply this laboratory discovery to the treatment of patients.

"We are all excited at the major advance this could represent for immunotoxin treatments for leukemia. We still need to do laboratory-based work to further develop this discovery into a practical and safe treatment for patients and money is the key to achieving this," he reportedly added. (With Inputs from Agencies)