A rare cancer-fighting plant compound has finally been decoded

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Source: ScienceDaily Health

Original: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251227082728.htm...

Published: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:05:08 EST

Scientists at UBC Okanagan have discovered how plants make mitraphylline, a rare natural compound with anti-cancer effects. They identified two key enzymes that shape and twist the molecules into their final form. This discovery solved a puzzle that had puzzled scientists for years. The result could facilitate the sustainable production of mitraphylin and related compounds. Plants are master chemists with untapped medical potential, according to the study.