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Anti-cancer Element Produced in China
Chinese scientists have produced a kind of chemical element through artificial synthesize which can fight tumor cells.
It is the first time in the world the element has been produced through artificial synthesize since foreign scientists discovered the anti-cancer function of saponin, which is separated from a South African plant.
Saponin is much more stronger than the other medicines currently used to treat cancer, according to Yu Biao, a research professor with the Shanghai Research Institute of Organic Chemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
Since saponin needs large amount of raw material and complicated methods to abstract it from natural plants, scientists have decided to produce it through artificial synthesize.
In 1997, under the guidance of Hui Yongzheng and Yu Biao, Doctor Deng Shaojiang and other researchers at the institute began experiments on producing such element and succeeded to produce more than 20 milligrams of saponin.
"Over the past few years, our research group has discovered methods which can be used to abstract element similar to saponin," said Prof. Yu.
Chinese scientists are now trying to improve the molecular structure of saponin to raise its ability in treating cancer.
American scientists are now using samples provided by Chinese scientists in anti-cancer research.
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