University of Ghana discovers cancer fighting agents

Read Article

Comments (30)

This article is closed for comments.

Read Comments Comments (30)

SELORM 10 years ago

There potential has always been there. We can achieve great things.

There potential has always been there. We can achieve great things.
jagadu 10 years ago

I bet you did not understand anything in the article.

I bet you did not understand anything in the article.
gyan 10 years ago

fake name

fake name
KING LOMOTEY 10 years ago

Why not make Legon a research University?

Why not make Legon a research University?
Open your eyes 10 years ago

Ghana can be a medical powerhouse.

Ghana can be a medical powerhouse.
United Ghana 10 years ago

Not if we sell the research to foreign pharmaceutical companies. To benefit, we need to invest in the results of the research ourselves. We borrowed billions for nothing, why not something so worthwhile

Not if we sell the research to foreign pharmaceutical companies. To benefit, we need to invest in the results of the research ourselves. We borrowed billions for nothing, why not something so worthwhile
keeeeeeeeeeeee 10 years ago

Very soon, NDC government will move to remove Dr. Kwaku Kyereme from his post like they did to Dr. Boateng.NDC and its dominated Ewes hate to see an Akan man in such a position. They wish he is an Ewe. I bet you, soon they wi ...
read full comment

Very soon, NDC government will move to remove Dr. Kwaku Kyereme from his post like they did to Dr. Boateng.NDC and its dominated Ewes hate to see an Akan man in such a position. They wish he is an Ewe. I bet you, soon they will remove this great man of knowledge.

Ghana is great if right personnels are allowed to work. Every position in this country is filled by an Ewe, and the country is plunging down the hills. Save Ghana from these unpatriotic predators who are looting and stealing our country.
luther 10 years ago

would have been better if the writer has broken down to acceptable level all the tortous jargon
then we will know its a proper discovery, not guess work

would have been better if the writer has broken down to acceptable level all the tortous jargon
then we will know its a proper discovery, not guess work
jagadu 10 years ago

I could not understand what the writer was conveying. This is tortuous indeed. The jargons and all the processes are so jarring my head started spinning after reading the article. My conclusion was what the heck but good work ...
read full comment

I could not understand what the writer was conveying. This is tortuous indeed. The jargons and all the processes are so jarring my head started spinning after reading the article. My conclusion was what the heck but good work anyway!
SIMON 10 years ago

GHANA HAVE ALOT OF PLANTS FOR MANY DISEASE CURING BUT A LOT OF OUR OLD MEN AND WOMEN DIED WITHOUT GETTING TO KNOW A LOT OF THESE PLANTS

GHANA HAVE ALOT OF PLANTS FOR MANY DISEASE CURING BUT A LOT OF OUR OLD MEN AND WOMEN DIED WITHOUT GETTING TO KNOW A LOT OF THESE PLANTS

Nana Akomea 10 years ago

These are the type of doctors we need.

These are the type of doctors we need.
p-chan 10 years ago

Not doctors, researchers :)

Not doctors, researchers :)
lord 10 years ago

These illiterate news writers are killing us slowly.am very sure the one who wrote this article does not know what he/she is writing.am sorry can somebody rewrite this to our understanding

These illiterate news writers are killing us slowly.am very sure the one who wrote this article does not know what he/she is writing.am sorry can somebody rewrite this to our understanding
p-chan 10 years ago

Well, the author got some of their facts wrong. And I’m not familiar with this research but I will try to give an easier to understand blurb based off the article. Here it goes:

There exists a gr ...
read full comment

Well, the author got some of their facts wrong. And I’m not familiar with this research but I will try to give an easier to understand blurb based off the article. Here it goes:

There exists a group of chemical compounds, known as “pyrrolizidine alkaloids” or PA’s for short, that have long been used for certain therapeutic properties (ex. one is currently sold as an antibiotic).
These compounds are largely made by plants which use them as a defense against insects and pests.

Researchers at the University of Ghana, along with a team of collaborators at the University of Aberdeen and Wuhan University are shedding light on a new potential use for these compounds as a cancer fighting drug.

For the first time in Ghana, researchers were able to identify a potential drug using a microorganism. Previous research looking for new potential drug compounds in Ghana have focused on studying the diverse plants that can be found.

Dr. Kwaku Kyeremeh and his team found two compounds which were named Legonmycin A and Legonmycin B for the region from which the microorganism is found.

Prior to this research, it was not well understood how PAs are made. By isolating a protein (LgnC) involved in producing Legonmycin A/B in the microorganism it is found from, our team was able to show how PAs like Legonmycin A/B are made. This knowledge can be taken to the pharmaceutical industry and could be used to mass produce PA drugs that are currently being used. As well, now that the steps needed to make these compounds are better understood, researchers can use this to modify steps to create different and more effective drugs.

Hope that helped. Please don’t plagiarize.
Gyedabi 10 years ago

The writer is saying that Legon and two other international universites have isolated an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or microbe from a plant in Ghana. This API or microbe has a potential to be used to treat cancer ...
read full comment

The writer is saying that Legon and two other international universites have isolated an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or microbe from a plant in Ghana. This API or microbe has a potential to be used to treat cancer in the future. I hopethis helps.
Kofi 10 years ago

Gyedai. Much better summary. Probably that is all they need to write for the general public audience.

Gyedai. Much better summary. Probably that is all they need to write for the general public audience.
Koo Nimo 10 years ago

What is microbial talent. Teach me

What is microbial talent. Teach me
HONESTY AND INTEGRITY 10 years ago

The message from this article is good, but difficult to fully understand the substance of it all. BUT WHAT CANCER (S) IS THIS FIND THOUGHT TO CURE POTENTIALLY, IS MISSING !.

The message from this article is good, but difficult to fully understand the substance of it all. BUT WHAT CANCER (S) IS THIS FIND THOUGHT TO CURE POTENTIALLY, IS MISSING !.
lori 10 years ago

didnt understand anything.............in english plsss not jibberish....only understood the u found a cancer fighting agent part..... for whats worth congrats

didnt understand anything.............in english plsss not jibberish....only understood the u found a cancer fighting agent part..... for whats worth congrats
BILE 10 years ago

GO STRAIGHT TO THE POINT AND DISCLOSE THE PLANT, THE SCIENTIFIC JARGONS WILL NOT HELP...I SUSPECT IT IS CANNABIS..

GO STRAIGHT TO THE POINT AND DISCLOSE THE PLANT, THE SCIENTIFIC JARGONS WILL NOT HELP...I SUSPECT IT IS CANNABIS..

p-chan 10 years ago

It was found in a microbe, not a plant.

It was found in a microbe, not a plant.
tigo john 10 years ago

and you published or announced your findings on Ghanaweb? Hmmmmmm what a science?Only in Ghana.

and you published or announced your findings on Ghanaweb? Hmmmmmm what a science?Only in Ghana.
HAZOR 10 years ago

Now is the time Ghana should protect its forest and trees from destruction form president Mahama Chinese galamsey from extinsion.Its time we our trees should be documented and studied.The Bible even said we should use the her ...
read full comment

Now is the time Ghana should protect its forest and trees from destruction form president Mahama Chinese galamsey from extinsion.Its time we our trees should be documented and studied.The Bible even said we should use the herbs and trees to cure our ailments and diseases.President Mahama stop timber export now.For it said the last tree die the last man dies.Its time to protect our forest.
Super OD 10 years ago

Other useless professors with no discoveries against their names should sit up asap.

Other useless professors with no discoveries against their names should sit up asap.
Ibn Batuta 10 years ago

This kind of article belongs in a scientific journal. The role of a good journalist is to simplify the article for the masses to comprehend. Simple cut and paste does not do it.

This kind of article belongs in a scientific journal. The role of a good journalist is to simplify the article for the masses to comprehend. Simple cut and paste does not do it.
p-chan 10 years ago

It doesn't even belong in a scientific journal....

It doesn't even belong in a scientific journal....
Plasma Kote 10 years ago

Please try again, do not COPY, try and ask for explanation on the details then communicate that information with the public.

Please try again, do not COPY, try and ask for explanation on the details then communicate that information with the public.
Plasma Kote 10 years ago

Or just a reporter.

Or just a reporter.
p-chan 10 years ago

This article makes me want to rant. It is so poorly written and it's obvious that the author has no clue what they are talking about. As a researcher invested in cancer therapies, my interest was piqued when this article was ...
read full comment

This article makes me want to rant. It is so poorly written and it's obvious that the author has no clue what they are talking about. As a researcher invested in cancer therapies, my interest was piqued when this article was forwarded my way. But I got very little from this. This group of researchers was able to find a compound that may have cancer fighting properties? Great. Now tell me how it may work to achieve that - there are only 10 possible choices. For example, by slowing down the growth of cells. The author mentions that this group of compounds has been used since ancient times for therapeutic and recreational purposes. Care to share some uses with the reader? And why is there such a roundabout approach taking to saying that they figured out the sequence of this compound and a few other compounds that are used to make the one we are interested in? I should stop ranting now; just had to get some of my frustration off my chest. It will be interesting to see where these compounds will go, especially since there is already controversy about whether PAs cause liver damage. Another tidbit the "journalist" could have added. Alright, I'm really done now.
Farouk 10 years ago

I think it will be good to provide a link to the original research paper.

I think it will be good to provide a link to the original research paper.

30 Comments

Welcome,

SIGN IN

Welcome,

RESET PASSWORD

Hello,

Terms and conditions

REGISTER

University of Ghana discovers cancer fighting agents

Read Comments .st0{display:none;fill:#14BDD3;} .st1{display:none;} .st2{display:inline;fill:#FC0F0F;} .st3{display:inline;fill:#FFFFFF;} .st4{display:inline;fill:none;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:6;stroke-miterlimit:10;} Comments (30)

Read Comments Comments (30)