For generations, Mzansi’s indigenous plants have been passed down, serving as the foundational treatment for countless illnesses. While some of these botanical remedies remain deeply sacred, modern scientists are increasingly studying, validating, and documenting their medicinal properties.
In a major recent breakthrough, North-West University revealed that Lessertia frutescens, commonly known as cancer bush (kankerbos), has shown powerful activity in laboratory studies against several aggressive forms of the disease, including colorectal cancer and drug-resistant small-cell lung cancer.
In a conversation with Food For Mzansi, Professor Chrisna Gouws from the Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences at North-West University’s faculty of health sciences explained that the research team tested extracts from the indigenous plant on cultured human cancer cells and more advanced, laboratory-grown “mini-tumours” known as spheroids.
“Lessertia frutescens has shown significant anticancer activity against several different cancer types in our research,” she says.
Vateka Halile: What makes the results of the Lessertia frutescens’ anticancer research particularly exciting for your team?
Professor Chrisna Gouws: What is very interesting and exciting is the apparent activity in drug-resistant cancers, such as resistant small-cell lung cancer, where known chemotherapies have limited to no activity. This provides us with new avenues to investigate for treatment options to treat cancers currently considered incurable.
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With the pharmacy product launch targeted for 2027, how will the raw plant material be sourced? Is there a strategy to integrate smallholder and emerging farmers into this commercial supply chain?
What is important to know is that the region greatly impacts the phytochemical composition of the plant and, therefore, significantly influences the biological activity of the extract. To date, we have mainly worked with plant material from the Western Cape region.
We will only source our plant material from commercial suppliers that have the necessary bioprospecting permits required by law for the product production. We are currently negotiating with them what their supply capacity will be.
To ensure quality control and consistency, and to ensure the necessary permits are in order, this is the safest option for us at this initial phase of the process. This may change depending on the commercial success of the product.
I do know that several of the main suppliers work with various smaller farms that can supply the material, but do not have the commercial reach to successfully distribute. That is probably the safest and easiest way for an emerging farmer to get into the supply chain, in my opinion. But the suppliers/distributors will have better insights, I think.
Chemotherapy can be very expensive and inaccessible in rural areas. A new plant-based treatment will be much more cost-effective and may be more accessible because it can be manufactured locally. An increase in demand for the plant material will also create economic opportunities through farming.
What are the next scientific steps for the project, and when can patients expect to see a product on the market?
Although many molecules have been identified and shown to contribute to the anticancer activity of the plant, the mechanism of action remains mostly unclear. We are therefore delving deeper now to try and understand how and why this plant works.
The next phase of the study will include animal model testing later this year to confirm safety and efficacy before future clinical trials can be considered. At the same time, the researchers are developing a complementary medicine product that may be available in pharmacies by 2027.
Given that standard chemotherapy often has harsh side effects, how does this plant-based alternative compare in terms of patient safety and wellness?
An important consideration is that this plant has a long history of use and is considered non-toxic and safe for use. Its anticancer activity comes without the significant side effects known to occur with most standard chemotherapies.
Lessertia has known boosting effects for the digestive and immune systems, and it can have mood-enhancing activities as well. It may therefore not only target the cancer but positively impact the patient as a whole at the same time.
Given the plant’s deep roots in traditional medicine, how is the university navigating South Africa’s bioprospecting and biodiversity laws to ensure traditional knowledge holders and local communities benefit from this research?
Given the long history of use, it is a very complex situation, yes, especially since it is not always clear who the traditional knowledge holders are.
We are therefore in constant contact with the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment for guidance and assistance in this regard, and have submitted our Discovery Phase Notification application as required by the NEMBA and the BABS Regulations.
We will also continue to ensure we comply with these regulations as we move forward with the commercialisation process.
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