By SIMON COLLINS science reporter
HortResearch scientists in Hamilton have found anti-tumour properties in Chinese medicinal plants that have the potential to earn millions of dollars for New Zealand.
HortResearch's general manager for biotechnology, Dr Garth Smith, has signed an agreement with China's Sichuan Institute of Natural Resources to market the active ingredients from a range of Chinese plants outside China.
As well as anti-tumour effects, he has found anti-oxidant and DNA-protecting agents in a collection of plants which he brought home from Chengdu in Sichuan province early this year.
"We have had four major finds within 25 plants," he said.
"Some of the sensors we have put them through have shown the potential for combating tumour growth in the human cell lines that we have got."
Dr Smith has been visiting China for 16 years - helping Chinese farmers to grow Chinese gooseberries, now known as kiwifruit, which were brought here from China about 100 years ago.
He realised the power of the traditional cures when he got a sore throat on a recent visit and was given 15 fragments of poison toad gland to swallow.
"Within 15 minutes my whole mouth was numb ... Then they gave me these green tablets - heaven knows what they were! But they lowered my temperature and I was able to carry on."
Dr Smith said research was still at an early stage.
Plants to combat tumours
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