Bhubaneswar, July 8: In a significant breakthrough in cancer research, scientists at Sambalpur University have developed a promising polyherbal anti-cancer formulation using medicinal plants collected from the Gandhamardan hills in western Odisha. The formulation has shown encouraging results in laboratory and animal studies, with researchers now preparing to begin human clinical trials.

Cancer remains one of the world's leading health challenges, while existing treatment methods are often expensive and associated with severe side effects. Against this backdrop, researchers from the Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics and the Centre of Excellence at Sambalpur University have been working since 2019 to develop a plant-based alternative therapy.

The research team screened nearly 50 medicinal plants from the biodiversity-rich Gandhamardan hills and selected five species to formulate the polyherbal drug candidate. Laboratory studies revealed that the formulation effectively inhibited the growth of cancer cells and destroyed them without causing damage to healthy cells.

The formulation was subsequently evaluated in pre-clinical animal trials. Researchers induced tumour growth in mice and administered the herbal formulation for around 35 days. The treatment resulted in a gradual reduction in tumour size, while no significant adverse side effects were observed during the study.

The researchers said the findings suggest that the formulation may selectively target cancer cells, unlike conventional chemotherapy, which often affects healthy cells as well. However, they emphasised that its efficacy and safety in humans can only be established after successful clinical trials.

A patent application has already been filed for the innovation. The next phase of the project will involve human clinical trials in collaboration with the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) under the Ministry of AYUSH, AIIMS Bhubaneswar and other partner institutions. The trials will begin after obtaining all necessary approvals and complying with the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The study employed advanced scientific techniques, including cellular analysis, IC50 determination, microscopic examination, cell culture and ultra-low temperature preservation. Cancer cell lines used in the research were sourced from the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune.

Researchers believe the formulation could hold particular promise in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, though they stressed that further scientific validation through clinical trials is essential before any therapeutic claims can be made.

The research is being led by Professor Pradeep Kumar Nayak of the Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Sambalpur University. The team includes Dr. Pratyusha Pragyandipta, Ishara Nayak, Neha Rani Nayak, S.K. Abdul Alam, Dr. Ankita Agrawal and Akanksha Das.