A Nigerian female scientist has developed cancer drug from African plants.
Mansurah Abdulazeez, a molecular biologist at the Center for Biotechnology Research, Bayero University, Kano, made a marvelous breakthrough in the treatment of cancer from African plants.
The biologist, who won a Nigerian National Research grant of $86,000 in June also got a fellowship in Spain in November 2018.
Mansurah said that Nigerian plants like drumsticks and soursop trees are very rich with anti-cancer agents.
In an interview with The Guardian, The researcher said she loves science so much while growing up, she wanted to be a medical doctor, but eventually ended up studying for biochemistry for her first degree in Ahmadu Bello University.
She said the research focuses on identifying potent anticancer agents from Nigerian plants such as cytotoxic activities of drumsticks and soursop trees.
Mansurah grew up with a deep passion for science and the result of that is vivid in her recent humanity-helping solution.
In addition, her research also studied the anticancer mechanisms exhibited by the plants, adding that there is “no single mode of action for all plants.”
When asked why African plants are important to her research, Mansurah said that they have large quantities of cancer-treating agents that are still unstudied in the academia.
“It is well documented that these plants have an enormous, largely unstudied anti-cancer potential. Research into herbs such as Guiera senegalensis, which is used by traditional African healers and known as ‘Sabara’ by locals, has led to the discovery of several anti-cancer drugs. In my view, this demonstrates how the study of African plants can result in the development of valuable drugs,” she said.
Mansurah, therefore, called on young African women interested in science to participate in both local and international conferences in their fields so that they could be abreast of methodologies, tools and available funding opportunities.
She sought support from senior colleagues, family and friends, hard work and focus to enable them to get to where they desire in science.
