Fayaz Mohammad-Bagheri, executive manager of the project identified the substance used as Colchicine, adding that Colchicine is an herbal Alkaloid extracted from the plant “colchicum autumnale” (also named “meadow saffron”).
He cited its toxicity as an advantage, and said that the substance is biologically active, cytotoxin, and shows its activity by attaching to cell microtubules (fine tubes which are a factor in cell division).
Explaining the function of the substance in the body, Mohammad Bagheri said “The attachment of this substance to the microtubules when cell divides stops the polymerization of the microtubules and causes cell necrosis. With the prevention of the lengthening of the microtubule, the mitotic spindle decomposes and multiplication cell division is stopped. According to this researcher, this effect has turned colchicines into the oldest known anti-mitotic (anti-cancer) drug.
He added that this substance has marked indirectly by technetium m99 and, using a chelator, a precision agent for cancer imaging was prepared.
Pointing to the applications of the findings, Mohammad Bagheri said that the accumulation of this substance in cancerous tumors facilitates imaging with high resolution.
MS/EA
MNA
END
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