PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Bageshwar
A medicinal plant, found naturally in the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand, has shown promising potential in combating blood cancer, as per a research conducted jointly by Soban Singh Jeena University, Almora; Kumaun University, Nainital and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
The researchers studied Kilmora (Berberis aristata), a medicinal plant traditionally found across the Himalayas. As part of the study, an extract was prepared from the plant’s bark and subjected to detailed chemical analysis. Its effects on cancer cells were then examined using advanced techniques, including the MTT Assay, Fluorescence Microscopy, Flow Cytometer and Western Blotting. The researchers also examined the effect of combining Kilmora bark extract with doxorubicin, a widely used chemotherapy drug for several types of cancer.
Speaking of the research, the assistant professor of Zoology in Kumaun University, Mukesh Samant, who served as the principal investigator, said that the study and experiments conducted on mice had shown that the combination helped control the growth of blood cancer cells. “The researchers also reported indications that some common side effects associated with chemotherapy were reduced,” he added.
However, the scientists, engaged in the research, cautioned that the findings are still at the preclinical stage and have so far been demonstrated only in laboratory and animal studies. The extract could not yet be considered a cure for cancer, they declared in unison.
The research team included Sumit Singh, Ranjit Manhas and Vinita Gauri from SSJ University and also Biplav and Pooja Goswami from BHU.
The researchers are now looking forward to the next stage, which will involve clinical trials in humans. “Such trials are required to confirm safety, effectiveness and appropriate dosage of any potential Kilmora-derived treatment. “In India, clinical trials and biomedical research are subject to regulatory and ethical oversight, with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) being one of the country’s key institutions in this field,” Samant said, adding that scientists and research scholars have been working on Kilmora since 2024 as part of a research undertaken under the Chief Minister’s Research Promotion Scheme.
Kilmora occurs naturally across several mountainous districts of Uttarakhand, raising the possibility of further research into the therapeutic potential of the state’s traditional medicinal plants. Notably, the plants for the research were collected from the Almora and Ranikhet regions. “The primary objective of the research is to scientifically investigate the medicinal properties of traditional plants found in Uttarakhand and explore their potential applications in modern medicine,” Samant informed.
