Two plants that cause neurotoxicity and paralysis in the tiniest doses are also known to counter pain, malaria, cancer and pests. For the first time, researchers discovered a way to recreate these powerful compounds in the lab, helping lead the way to improved, naturally-sourced therapeutics.
Centered on the plants wolfsbane and larkspur, the discovery comes about through a collaboration between scientists at Michigan State University and the Czech Academy of Sciences, and is published in the journal Molecular Plant.
“These plants have been used in different forms of medicine throughout the world for thousands of years,” said MSU alum Garret Miller, co-first author of the paper and now an assistant professor of biotechnology at University of Michigan-Flint.
“We know they intereact with our bodies in so many ways, and understanding how to create them can help provide totally new routes of testing.”