Researchers at UTSA are looking into Sweet Annie, a plant that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for at least 2,000 years. They are interested in the plant’s possible medical characteristics, including whether or not it is effective against cancer and COVID-19. This plant is responsible for the production of something known as artemisinin, which is an endoperoxide and is employed in the medical management of malaria. Its leaf extracts have been successfully utilized in the treatment of a wide number of other conditions, notably cancer and COVID-19. And now for something that is actually incredible. The plant extract blended in tea has been utilized in Africa to potentially fight COVID and cancer. Now, a clinical investigation with coffee infused with Sweet Annie is currently underway.

Find out more by reading on.

We’re in the first phases of studying the mechanism of action of Sweet Annie’s medicinal compounds to decide how to best deliver them and target therapy; […] We can lower the concentration to directly target tumors. Right now, we’re looking at how to encapsulate the compound into various concentrations that will specifically target areas in need of the treatment, explained Annie Lin, UTSA researcher.

The researchers examined the fractions to see whether or not they have cytotoxic activity (the degree to which a chemical is poisonous to cells) versus glioblastoma (GBM) cells, a kind of brain tumor that is aggressive. After that, they purified the fractions in order to determine the fraction’s constituent components and test those elements against cancer cells one at a time. What the researchers discovered is quite incredible, and it gives one hope for the future.

Throughout the procedure, arteannuin B showed cytotoxic action toward GBM cancer cells on a continuous basis. They think that it has the potential to block the cysteine proteases, which are enzymes that break down proteins and have been elevated in cancer cells. Absolutely amazing!

Continued efforts are being made in the quest for evidence on how Sweet Annie plants could be able to combat brain cancer.

Here’s how you can make Sweet Annie (Wormwood) tea

The recommended preparation is for one cup of hot water to be poured over half a teaspoon to one teaspoon of dried tea leaves in a cup. Water should not be boiled. Tea needs a couple of minutes to steep. The leaves have a powerful and harsh flavor; thus, a sweetener is recommended. If you’re going to drink this tea, do it after a meal. Mixing the tea with other herbal teas, such as peppermint, can help enhance the flavor.

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