Guest guest Posted December 16, 2000 Report Share Posted December 16, 2000 Skin Cancers Cured by Poisonous Weed ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ADELAIDE, Australia (Reuters Health) Dec 08 - Radium weed, also known as petty spurge, may hold the key to treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer. The poisonous European weed, properly known as Euphorbia peplus, is common in Australian urban areas. It has been used as a folk treatment for skin conditions for hundreds of years. The active compounds in the weed have been patented by Peplin Biotech Ltd. Managing Director Garry Redlich commented to Reuters Health that " the company has been particularly interested in this family of plants because of the folklore. We've done 3 years of rigorous testing of its anticancer activity. " The compounds have recently been used in a trial at Brisbane's Mater Adult Hospital, where 40 patients with solar keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma were treated. Early results are promising, according to the researchers, Dr. Ramsay and colleagues. In 88% of the trial patients, the sun spots and cancers cleared up completely. Most of the patients were treated for 3 days, and side effects were limited to local pain and irritation. The pilot study, which began in April 1999, will continue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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