Scientists Decode Rare Plant Compound With Potential Cancer-Fighting Properties in New Study

A rare cancer-fighting plant compound that once seemed nearly impossible to produce may now be within scientists’ reach.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, have uncovered the molecular process plants use to create mitraphylline, a natural compound known for its potential anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. The discovery reveals how plants assemble one of nature’s most chemically complex molecules and could open the door to greener, more sustainable drug development.

Mitraphylline belongs to a rare family of plant chemicals called spirooxindole alkaloids. These compounds are recognized for their unusual twisted molecular structures and strong biological activity, including potential anti-tumor effects. However, scientists had long struggled to understand exactly how plants produce them.

That changed when researchers identified two critical enzymes involved in the final stages of mitraphylline production. One enzyme helps fold the molecule into its correct three-dimensional structure, while the second converts it into the final compound.

The work builds on an earlier 2023 discovery from Dang’s laboratory, which identified the first known plant enzyme capable of twisting molecules into the distinctive “spiro” shape seen in these compounds.

Mitraphylline naturally occurs only in extremely small amounts in tropical plants such as Mitragyna speciosa and Uncaria tomentosa, making it difficult and expensive to isolate for research or medical use. Now, by identifying the enzymes responsible for building the molecule, scientists believe they may eventually reproduce the process using biotechnology rather than relying on limited plant sources.

Scientists say the next phase of research will focus on adapting these newly discovered molecular tools to create a wider range of therapeutic compounds that could eventually support cancer treatment and other medical applications.

REFERENCE: Larissa C Laforest, Tuan-Anh M Nguyen, Gabriel Oliveira Matsumoto, Pavithra Ramachandria, Andre Chanderbali, Siva Rama Raju Kanumuri, Abhisheak Sharma, Christopher R McCurdy, Thu-Thuy T Dang, Satya Swathi Nadakuduti. A chromosome-level Mitragyna parvifolia genome unveils spirooxindole alkaloid diversification and mitraphylline biosynthesis. The Plant Cell, 2025; 37 (9) DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koaf207