Unique plant with anti-cancer agent garners interest

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=80253

Unique plant with anti-cancer agent garners interest

by Johnson K Saai.

Posted on December 14, 2010, Tuesday

KUCHING: Several renowned universities and commercial companies were enquiring about the availability of silvestrol which has a remarkable potential to be developed as an anti-cancer agent.
“This plant is found in Ba Kelalan and is known as ‘Segera’ to the Ibans and ‘Kellabuno’ to the Orang Ulu community. It contains a potent compound called silvestrol which has been patented worldwide by the Sarawak government, covering at least 16 countries,” Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan disclosed.

He said the state government was reviewing the agreements to be signed with the interested parties now and when these collaborations take off, Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) will be the main agency to coordinate the supply of this drug candidate.

Dr Chan was speaking at the official opening of Sarawak Biodiversity Centre administration building and Karnival Biodiversity 2010 by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at Km20, Jalan Puncak Borneo near here.

He said earlier, the ‘special plant’ found in the Laila Taib Ethno-Botanical Garden in SBC, which contains a potent compound called silvestrol and has remarkable potential to be developed as an anti cancer agent, had drawn intense attention from a number of high profile international research groups.

“Furthermore, a related patent is now being filed by SBC that enables the DNA identification of plant species that produces this compound. This is very important in the event that collection and mass propagation of this plant becomes necessary,” he added.

He also pointed out that National Cancer Institute of USA; a leading agency in cancer research and clinical trials has teamed up with the prestigious Ohio State University, known for its clinical development of therapeutic drug for cancer, especially leukaemia, to work with SBC to conduct pre-clinical and clinical trials for silvestrol.

Meanwhile, Dr Chan, who is Tourism and Heritage Minister, said since the state was rich in biodiversity, it was advisable that local communities take the initiative to establish nurseries and gardens of useful plants.

He suggested that the establishment of such nurseries and gardens will not only facilitate conservation effort of the biodiversity but it can also become tourist attractions.

He said one good example was the herbal garden established by the Penan community of Long Iman near Mulu National Park where a minimal fee of RM1 will be charged for a guided garden tour.

“Another potential tourist draw is the establishment of a garden for useful plants and the distillation of aromatic essential oils by the Bidayuh community of Kampung Kiding in Padawan,” he said.

Dr Chan said that the Laila Taib Ethno-Botanical Garden will give a lasting impression to anyone who walked through it.

The plants in this unique garden were contributed by many communities, namely the Bidayuh, Penan, Selako, Iban, Malay, Melalau, Berawan, Lun Bawang, Kayan, Kelabit, Bisaya and Kenyah.

“Communities that participate in SBC’s Traditional Knowledge Documentation programme are also encouraged to set up their own nurseries and gardens of useful plants as part of the conservation efforts,” he disclosed.

He said that many opportunities for research could be done on the biodiversity present there and more importantly was how the research could help mankind in terms of pharmaceuticals, medicines, and health as well as tourism.