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Kentucky Biologist Turns To Plants For Possible Cancer Cure

Owensboro Messenger

An assistant professor of biology at Western Kentucky University-Owensboro is looking at the use of plants in the battle against cancer.

Chandra Emani told the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer that he hopes to find a potential cure for the disease using plant-based medicines. Currently, he and his research team are working with basil, ginger, neem and tobacco. He said those particular plants have metabolites in them, which have been shown to have some action against cancer.

Emani said individual extracts from the plants have been tested. He said those are being tested against pancreatic, colon, lung, cervical and breast cancers and "we saw they have an action across the board."