From the Greek mountains to anti-cancer medication: What a study of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki shows about itamos

The familial diverseness and medicinal worth of itamos, a uncommon histrion of the Greek mountains with important imaginable for the improvement of anti-cancer drugs, are highlighted successful a caller survey by the AUTH.

In the model of probe conducted by the Laboratory of Forest Genetics of the Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, nether the coordination of Professor Philip Aravanopoulos, important populations of the European Itham (Taxus baccata) were identified successful Greece, which are invaluable earthy sources of substances utilized successful wide anti-cancer drugs. Three determination populations successful Northern Greece, successful the Cholomontas, Olympos, and Vourinos mountains, were examined to measure the familial and chemic diversity, arsenic good arsenic the epigenetic characteristics of the species.

According to the researchers, taxanes – earthy compounds produced by itamos – are cardinal components of drugs specified arsenic paclitaxel (Taxol), which is utilized successful the attraction of assorted forms of cancer.

The results of the study, which is the archetypal broad valuation of Greek itamos populations, showed important differences betwixt populations successful the magnitude of anti-cancer taxanes they produce, arsenic good arsenic singular seasonal variations successful their concentrations. In particular, 10-deacetylbacatin III, a precursor compound for the semi-synthetic accumulation of paclitaxel, was detected astatine precocious concentrations successful the needles of the trees, with the Olympus colonisation showing the highest levels.

At the aforesaid time, important familial diverseness and wide differentiation betwixt populations were found, which, according to the researchers, highlights the value of Greek populations arsenic invaluable reservoirs of familial material. Of peculiar involvement are the findings connected DNA methylation, a mechanics associated with the adaptation of organisms to biology conditions, and suggesting the imaginable of these trees nether conditions of beardown clime change.

The findings of the survey item the imaginable for processing familial betterment programs to prime and propagate trees with accrued taxation accumulation without compromising familial diversity. It besides highlights the request to support the existing populations of itamos successful Greece, which are uncommon and often fragmented. Among the measures projected are the strengthening of the extortion regime, systematic monitoring, and the improvement of conservation actions some wrong and extracurricular the earthy environment.

The survey was implemented with nationalist backing (ESPA), successful collaboration with ELGO-Dimitra and the Italian probe instauration Fondazione Edmund Mach, and its results were published successful the prestigious technological diary PLOS One.