IIT Madras Patents Use of Indian Spices in Cancer Treatment; Trials To Begin Soon

IIT Madras has patented Indian spice-based cancer treatments, with medicines expected by 2028. These nanomedicines are effective against various cancers yet safe for healthy cells. Know complete details here 

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras has patented the utilisation of Indian spices in cancer treatment, with the expectation that the resulting medications will be available in the market by 2028. These nanomedicines, derived from Indian spices, have demonstrated effectiveness in combating cancer cells in the lung, breast, colon, cervical, oral, and thyroid areas, while proving to be non-toxic to healthy cells.

The nanomedicines have proven to be non-toxic to healthy cells. Researchers are now focusing on overcoming the significant challenges of safety and affordability that plague current cancer treatments. These nanomedicines are effective against cancers of the lung, breast, colon, cervical, oral, and thyroid while remaining safe for normal cells. 

"While the medical benefits of Indian spice oils have been known through the ages, their bioavailability has limited their application and use. Formulation as a nano-emulsion effectively overcomes this limitation. Stability of the nano-emulsion was a key consideration and it was optimised in our laboratory," R Nagarajan, a professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering in IIT-Madras said. 

M Joyce Nirmala, Chief Scientific Officer (Cancer Nanomedicine and Drug Design Laboratory), IIT Madras, said the patented Indian spice-based nano-formulations have proven effective in many common types of cancers through in-vitro studies.

As the leading producer of spices globally, India can produce the spice-derived cancer nanomedicine on a large scale at minimal cost. Additionally, these formulations are designed for oral administration to simplify the treatment regimen. The selected spices are edible, ensuring good biocompatibility and minimizing toxic side effects.

Read More 

• IIT Madras Starts Application for Summer Fellowship Programme; Check Eligibility and Stipend Here
• IIT Madras Invites Public to Witness State-of-the-Art Research Facilities on March 2 and 3