Breakthrough discovery in dahlia flowers could help treat MS, cancer
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Dahlias are everywhere in the Pacific Northwest, brightening even the rainiest days. But new research from Oregon Health and Science University and the University of Portland has led to the discovery of a game-changing compound in these vibrant flowers that could fight cancer and other diseases.
Dr. Larry Sherman, Ph.D., is a professor in the Division of Neuroscience at OHSU's Oregon National Primate Research Center and a co-author of a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Dr. Angela Hoffman, a nun and retired chemistry professor at the University of Portland, is another co-author in the research paper.
"It's putting that puzzle together that's really exciting," said Sherman on the discovery that could change cancer and neurodegenerative disease treatments forever.
"That's the coolest part of doing 'I-don't-know-what's-going-to-happen-next-research', and that's the kind I like," Hoffman added.
Years of dedicated research on yellow and orange dahlias by Hoffman and her students led up to the discovery of the key compound, called sulfuretin.
"I say thank you for your pigments, I love it," Hoffman said.
How does it all work? When inflammation triggers CEMIP production, it breaks down hyaluronic acid, making nerve repair harder in MS and helping cancer cells grow.
But sulfuretin, the compound discovered in dahlias, blocks CEMIP, boosting nerve repair and making it tougher for cancer cells to thrive, offering a new hope for treatment.
Researchers said the applications for treatment may include MS, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, certain brain injuries and even cerebral palsy.
Sherman said the goal is to test sulfuretin in animals to see how it works. Just one step of many toward potential new treatment options.
"If we can do anything that's going to help that group of patients in any way, it would be just, it would blow my mind," Sherman said. "It would be awesome."
Both doctors stressed that while dahlias are beautiful, they're not for eating. The key is a specific compound from the flower. From here, medical chemists will work to turn it into a potential drug.