Imagine the wild plants we consider weeds growing outside our front doors being instrumental in the fight against cancer. A new study from a collaboration of universities in London shows that a common weed, known as Thale cress helps stop the growth of breast cancer cells. (1)

Plant Power

The study conducted by Brunel University research team shows that Thale cress, or Arabidopsis thaliana, has more to offer than once believed. Part of the cabbage family, but not even used in culinary dishes, Arabidopsis was disregarded as having no medicinal value. (1) Professor Alessandra Devoto of the Royal Holloway, University of London led the research, having studied Arabidopsis since 2006. (2)

The cabbage family includes broccoli, mustard, kale, and other plants known for their anticancer properties. In fact, it was these anticancer properties which piqued Devoto’s interest in Arabidopsis in the first place. (3)

But the research team didn’t rely on just Thale cress alone. They treated the weed with a compound found in jasmine, called jasmonate. This hormone is typically released when the plant is under stress, which attacks potentially harmful cells, such as cancer. (3) During the research study, when the two plants released their hormones together, the compound was incubated with breast cancer cells. To the science world’s astonishment, these unassuming plants stopped the growth.

New Hope for Treating Breast Cancer

Discovering a common plant may help cancer patients is definitely uplifting news. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women excluding skin cancer. Statistically, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. It is a serious ailment, with a death rate higher than any other cancer besides lung cancer. (4)

Treating cancer with chemotherapy can improve the chances of survival and sending cancer into remission. However, there can be many undesired side effects. (2) A huge drawback to chemotherapy, as well as other treatments, is it doesn’t just attack and destroy cancer cells, but healthy cells as well. (3) One of the truly remarkable benefits of the research done by Devoto and her team is this potential treatment reduces negative side effects. While the Arabidopsis jasmonate compound stopped cancer cells from growing, the normal cells remained unaffected. (1) This means reduced recovery time after treatment and fewer secondary side-effects.

Natural Wonders

While this study focused on breast cancer cells, the researchers believe there are wide-spread applications with other cancers. (2) And the study proves that we have much to learn about the natural world. Even plants without historical medicinal uses—or any known uses—can be used to fight some of the greatest challenges of our modern life. (1)

Scientists are looking at plants in a new light. Many are used to treat our most challenging and serious threats to our health and well-being, such as cancer. However, even though medicines from plants are promising in research studies, the anticancer properties are studied in controlled laboratories. More testing is needed to determine if these potential miracle treatments will be effective in humans. (3)

With this research comes new hope in fighting breast cancer. We may never look at common plants—weeds or otherwise—the same way again. The greatest discoveries could be right under our noses the entire time.