Madras univ gets a patent for finding anti-cancer compound in sapota leaves

ANTI-DIABETIC TOO

Madras univ gets a patent for finding anti-cancer compound in sapota leaves

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Puducherry:  30.06.2020

The University of Madras has obtained a patent for discovering a new compound from the leaves of sapota (botanical name Manilkara zapota). The compound named Mazapotin has anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antioxidant and anti-angiogenic properties.

Former director of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras, N Raaman, along with his student C Sivaraj extracted the compound. The university filed a patent in 2012 through patent agent B Deepa. The Intellectual Property India, after due process and examination, granted the patent in June this year for discovering the compound.

The university was granted patent for its extraction process, evolved by Raaman and Sivaraj, last year.

“Mazapotin has anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenic properties and is more powerful than Quercetin (a flavonoid used for the prevention and treatment of cancer). After studying its mechanism of action and clinical trials, the compound can be developed as a medicine to treat cancer patients who are diabetics,” said Raaman, who is also the director of Centre for Herbal Sciences at the university.

Raaman claimed that Mazapotin prevents the binding of carcinogens to DNA and strengthens connective tissues, which may prevent cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body. “Mazapotin has the ability to cause normal and controlled death of cancer cells,” said Raaman.

He said 1-7 microgram per ml concentration of Mazapotin has antioxidant activity in the range of 35.29% to 98.34%, higher than the antioxidant activity of Quercetin. The new compound at 0.5mg per pellet has 57.25% of angiogenic inhibition activity. Similarly, a 25 microgram per ml concentration of Mazapotin can account for the death of 85.42% of MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line). A 5-35 microgram per ml concentration of Mazapotin has anti-diabetic activity in the range of 18.18% to 66.66%, Raaman said.