Anti-cancer drug reported

Press, 9 April 1979, Page 20

Anti-cancer drug reported

A "scruffy little shrub” in Zululand, in the north-east comer of South Africa, has been found to be the world’s richest source of a new and powerful anti-cancer chemical. Jaap Boekkooi reports in the Johannesburg "Star” that the shrub, exclusive to South Africa, is classified under the comic designation genus putterlickia and is now the subject of a multimillion dollar study in the United States. As the world’s richest proved source of the anticancer agent Maytansine — now being clinically tested on terminal patients in the United States — it has

undergone long laboratory and animal testing. Describing the putterlickia, Mr Mike Wells, head of economic botany at the South African National Botanical Research Institute, said: “It is nothing to look at. It has insignificant flowers, but some of the berries and new leaves turn red. American scientists have been here a number of times to collect it and we have sent it to the United States in bulk.” The putterlickia is being tested against a wide range of cancers. Since testing is still in the experimental stages, years will be needed to prove its effectiveness and lack of side effects.