Indian Spices as Raw Material to Develop Nanomedicines to treat Cancer

Context

Recently, researchers at IIT Madras have patented the use of Indian spices to develop nanomedicine treatments for cancer.

On The Nanomedicines

• The technique of using nanometer-size materials for medical purposes is termed nanotechnology, and it is defined as diagnostic medicine (including diagnosis and monitoring), treatment, prevention and cure of disease. Nanomaterials basically are small in form but not so lethally big-huge, at least some folks think that way because they’re about 10-9 m wide after all.
• It uses the material in its nanometre scale-but so that is less than 10-9 m.
• The patented Indian spice-based nano-formulations have been effective in the most common cancers according to in-vitro studies.
• Animal validation studies have been done for the patented anti-cancer nano-formulations.
• The drug dosage of this nanomedicine and its effectiveness are both under examination through animal models.

Significance of The Newly Patented Nanomedicine

• India is the world’s largest spice producer. Large-scale production at low cost is thus practical.
• Indian spice oil has had medical benefits all through history, but its bioavailability has sharply limited its application and use. Making a nano emulsion from Indian spice oils successfully overcomes this hindrance, and in recent years researchers have gone on to develop effective cancer nanomedicines on that basis.
• The stability of the nano-emulsion is one key point to consider in effective drug-making.
• Chosen from edible sources of spices- so biocompatibility is good, helping to reduce the toxic side effects.
• This cancer nanomedicine is being developed in order to low down cost and suffering from cancer treatment.
• These warming formulations were increasingly needed such as oral administration path integrators. It is considered that cancer nanomedicine is more positive than traditional treatments, including lower toxicity levels, better drug concentration, a variety of sizes in nano- range compatible with all demands of medical care & longer stay times within body tissues

How Does Cancer Develop?

• Cancer can still develop. Cancer is a genetic disease. In cancer, some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Genetic changes that cause cancer can come about because of errors that occur as cells divide.
• Damage to DNA caused by harmful substances in the environment, such as the chemicals in tobacco smoke or the ultraviolet rays from the sun.
• The body normally gets rid of cells that have damaged DNA before they turn cancerous. However, as one ages, the body’s ability to do this weakens, leading to a higher risk of cancer in later life.
• Each person’s cancer is characterised by a unique combination of genetic changes. As the cancer continues to grow, more changes will occur.
• Within the same tumour, different cells may have different genetic changes.

Conclusion

• The development of Indian spice-based nanomedicines for cancer treatment by IIT Madras has shown promising results in specifically targeting a variety of cancer cells with minimal toxicity to normal cells.
• With potential cost reduction, reduced side effects and improved bioavailability, this innovation holds great promise for more effective and available treatments against cancer.

Source: DECCANHERALD

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q.Consider the following questions relating to Nanomedicine

1. 1. It uses the material in its nanometre scale-but so that is less than 10-9 m.
   2. The drug dosage of this nanomedicine and its effectiveness are both under examination through animal models.

Which of the following option is correct about the above statements

a. 1 Only

b. 2 Only

c. 1 & 2 both

c. None

Ans: “c”

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