Thailand Medical Study Discovers Phytochemicals from Local Fig Tree That Kill Bile Duct Cancer Cells
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 07, 2026 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
Thailand Medical: A remarkable new discovery from Thailand has revealed that a traditional medicinal fig tree may contain powerful natural compounds capable of killing aggressive bile duct cancer cells. Scientists studying the plant Ficus hispida have identified several bioactive molecules that strongly suppress cancer cell survival in laboratory experiments, offering fresh hope for the development of future plant-based cancer therapies.
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Thailand Medical scientists discover powerful anticancer compounds in the traditional medicinal fig tree Ficus hispida
The study was conducted by
Thailand Medical researchers from the Department of Systems Biosciences and Computational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand; the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Thailand; the School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Thailand; and the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand.
Their research highlights the remarkable medicinal potential hidden within a plant long used in traditional medicine across Asia.
A Traditional Medicinal Plant Under Scientific Scrutiny
Ficus hispida is a fig species widely distributed across Thailand, India, China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Australia. For centuries, different parts of this plant—including its bark, fruits, leaves, and roots—have been used in traditional remedies for various health problems such as ulcers, jaundice, diabetes, bleeding disorders, and digestive illnesses.
Despite its long-standing use in traditional medicine, scientists had never performed a comprehensive analysis of all the chemical substances present in the plant. Understanding the plant’s chemical profile could reveal which natural compounds might be responsible for its medicinal benefits.
To investigate this, researchers analyzed five different parts of the plant: the bark, fruits, leaves, twigs, and stalks.
Advanced Metabolomics Reveals Dozens of Bioactive Chemicals
Using an advanced analytical technology known as UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS metabolomics, scientists performed a detailed chemical profiling of the plant extracts.
Their analysis identified 82 distinct metabolites, a large number of naturally occurring chemicals produced by the plant. These metabolites belonged to several important phytochemical groups including fatty acids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, saccharides, amino acids, and peptides.
Interestingly, each part of the plant contained a unique chemical profile. Bark extracts were particularly rich in phenolic compounds, while leaves contained a higher concentration of alkaloids. Twigs and fruits were abundant in fatty acids, whereas stalks showed high levels of terpenoids.
These chemical differences turned out to play a major role in determining which plant parts had the strongest anti
cancer activity.
Strong Suppression of Bile Duct Cancer Cells
The researchers tested the plant extracts on two laboratory models of cholangiocarcinoma, a deadly cancer of the bile ducts that is especially prevalent in Southeast Asia.
The results were striking. Extracts derived from the bark and leaves showed the strongest anticancer activity, significantly reducing the viability of the cancer cells. Only very small concentrations of these extracts were required to kill half of the cancer cells in laboratory tests.
Although the extracts were less potent than the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine, they still demonstrated impressive anticancer activity for natural plant extracts.
Identification of Key Cancer-Fighting Compounds
Further analysis helped scientists pinpoint several metabolites that may be responsible for the observed anticancer effects. Four compounds in particular showed strong correlations with cancer cell suppression: catharanthine, cianidanol, procyanidin B2, and quinic acid.
Among these, catharanthine emerged as the most powerful anticancer compound. Laboratory testing showed that catharanthine significantly reduced the survival of bile duct cancer cells.
Catharanthine belongs to a class of plant alkaloids related to well-known chemotherapy drugs such as vinblastine and vincristine, which are widely used in cancer treatment.
The discovery that Ficus hispida naturally produces this compound suggests the plant could become an important source of new anticancer drug candidates.
Synergy Between Natural Plant Compounds
One interesting observation made by the researchers was that crude plant extracts sometimes showed stronger effects than isolated compounds.
This phenomenon may be explained by synergy, where multiple natural chemicals in a plant work together to enhance biological activity. Such interactions are common in medicinal plants and may help explain why traditional herbal remedies can sometimes produce strong therapeutic effects.
A Promising Lead for Future Cancer Therapies
While the findings are encouraging, researchers emphasize that the work is still in the early stages. All experiments were conducted in laboratory cell models, and additional studies in animals and humans will be necessary before any potential treatments can be developed.
Nevertheless, the study provides valuable insight into the medicinal chemistry of Ficus hispida and highlights its potential as a source of new anticancer compounds.
Conclusion
The research demonstrates that Ficus hispida contains a diverse range of bioactive metabolites with significant anticancer potential. Among these compounds, catharanthine appears to play a key role in suppressing bile duct cancer cell growth. Although further studies are required to understand its mechanisms, safety, and effectiveness in living organisms, the findings offer a promising foundation for developing plant-derived therapies that may complement conventional chemotherapy and help address drug resistance in aggressive cancers.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: PLOS One.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/
For the latest on cancer research, keep on logging to
Thailand Medical News.
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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