Anti-cancer compound found in SE Asian plant

Anti-cancer compound found in SE Asian plant

Reuters, Kuala Lumpur

Research has shown that a Malaysian jungle plant widely believed
to be an aphrodisiac could also be effective against cancer and
HIV, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

The New Sunday Times said early results from a study conducted
by a Malaysian government-sponsored agency and the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology found that some chemical constituents of
the 'tongkat ali' plant show high anti-cancer and anti-HIV
activity.

HIV is the virus which causes AIDS

Forest Research Institute Malaysia director-general Abdul
Razak Mohd Ali was quoted by the newspaper as saying that initial
laboratory work had shown that the chemical constituents could be
more effective than existing anti-cancer drugs.

Tongkat ali, scientifically known as eurycoma longifolia, is
reputed to boost the male sex drive although villagers have long
used it to improve blood circulation and cure skin diseases.

Malaysia last year patented the plant, which also grows in
Thailand and Indonesia, to give the country a big push into the
herbal medicine industry.

Another Malaysian-U.S. study had also shown that the bintangor
tree found in Malaysia's eastern state of Sarawak is a source of
an anti-AIDS compound -- calonolide. It is currently undergoing
clinical trial in the United States.