A group of researchers discovered that from Aspergillus Flavus, the mushroom-killer linked to the curse of Tutankhamon, it is possible to extract a substance capable of effectively fighting the carcinogenic cells of leukemia: the important discovery, detailed in a study published on Nature Chemical Biologyopens to new possible natural treatments against cancer. As Xue (Sherry) Gao, one of the authors, recalls, “from the mushrooms we have obtained penicillin: the results of our research show that there are still many potential medicines to discover in nature”.
Cursed mushroom. THE’Aspergillus Flavus It is a toxic mushroom that is suspected caused the death of different archaeologists over time: in the 1920s several people died after opening the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamon, contributing to the spread of the famous legend of the “curse of the pharaoh“.
In reality, decades later we discovered that the curses had little to do with it: the assassins they were probably some fungal spores remained dormant for millennia in the sarcophagus. In the seventies, something similar to scientists who entered the tomb of King Casimiro IV, in Poland – in a few weeks, ten died. In this case the culprit was ascertained: Mushroom A. Flavus, whose toxins can cause a lung infection especially in immunosuppressed people.
The discovery of asperigiMicine. TO transform a toxic mushroom into anticancer therapy They are the modified ribosomial peptides (RIPPS), chemical compounds often found in bacteria, but much less frequently in mushrooms. Purifying four different types of Ripps found in theA. Flavusscholars have managed to identify particular molecules never seen before, baptized asperigimicine, capable of effectively contrast leukemic cells. A molecular variant in particular, to which a lipide (i.e. a fat molecule) was added, gave the same results as citarabine and daunorubicin, two drugs approved by the FDA to treat leukemia.
How does it work? Further tests have shown that asperigimicine work by preventing the process of division of cancer cells: “These molecules block the formation of micro -tubules, which are essential for cell division”, explains Gao. Unfortunately these compounds They are unable to combat breast, liver or lung cancer cells.
The next step is to test the effect of asperigimicine in animal models and, one day, to be able to move to clinical trials on humans: “Nature has given us an incredible pharmacy: now it is up to us to discover the secrets”, concludes Gao.
