Dubai: Omani researchers at the University of Nizwa have produced a medicinally important compound from Omani frankincense, which could aid breast cancer treatment.
Dr Ahmad Sulaiman Al Harrasi, holder of the University's Chair of Oman's Medicinal Plants and Marine Natural Products, claimed that the researchers have succeeded in isolating and enhancing the percentage of AKBA (beta-boswellic acid, keto-beta-boswellic acid, and acetyl-keto-beta-boswellic acid) found in the resin of Omani frankincense , Gulf News reported.
AKBA has been indicated in apoptosis, or death of cancer cells, in particular brain tumours and cells affected by leukaemia or colon cancer.
He added that this discovery will play a vital medicinal, as well as economic role as AKBA is very costly.
The Omani media had also claimed that a "cure" for cancer had been found, which Al Harrasi denied.
He said that he would like to dispel certain misgivings regarding the discovery as they have not discovered a cure and it is not from oil as reported and being widely circulated on social media.
Al Harrasi insisted that they have experimented on various cancer cell alliances for their research, which have shown positive results.
