Chinese skullcap: Scientists uncovered how the wonder plant cures cancer

A group of scientists has assisted crack one of the secrets of a plant used as the traditional Chinese medicine. Professor Cathie Martin of the John Innes Centre uncovered how a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine produces compounds which may assist to treat cancer and liver diseases. The Chinese skullcap, Scutellaria baicalensis, otherwise known in Chinese medicine as Huang-Qin, is traditionally used as a treatment for fever, liver and lung complaints. Next research on cells cultured in the lab has shown that certain compounds called flavones, found in the roots of this plant, not only have beneficial anti-viral and anti-oxidant effects, but they can also kill human cancers while leaving healthy cells untouched. In live animal models, these flavones have also halted tumour growth, offering hope that they may one day lead to effective cancer treatments, or even cures. As a group of compounds, the flavones are relatively well understood. But the beneficial flavones found in Huang-Qin roots, such as wogonin and baicalin, are different: a missing -OH (hydroxyl) group in their chemical structure left scientists scratching their heads as to how they were made in the plant. Lead author Cathie Martin explained that many flavones are synthesised using a compound called naringenin as a building block. But naringenin has this -OH group attached to it, and there is no known enzyme that will remove it to produce the flavones we find in Huang-Qin roots. Working in cooperation  with Chinese scientists, Cathie and her squad  explored the possibility that Huang-Qin’s root-specific flavones were made via a different biochemical pathway.