New publications
Tobacco flowers contain a cure for cancer
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
A research group of Australian scientists has made a sensational discovery: it turns out that tobacco flowers contain special molecules NaD1, which help destroy cancer cells. As studies have shown, these molecules act selectively, destroy cancer cells without damaging healthy ones. In the future, experts plan to use this molecule to develop new-generation cancer drugs.
The discovery was made at the La Trobe Institute of Molecular Sciences in Melbourne. A group of biologists, studying tobacco flowers, isolated the NaD1 molecule from them. The peculiarity of this molecule is that it captures lipids and breaks the membranes of cancer cells, while the molecule does not affect normal cells.
This molecule plays an important role for the plant – it protects against dangerous bacteria and fungi that can destroy flowers.
During the experiments, it was found that the new molecule, isolated from tobacco flowers, is capable of significantly slowing down the development of cancer in the body. As experts noted, most anti-cancer drugs used today have a strong negative effect on the entire body, causing severe side effects. As experiments have shown, the NaD1 molecule binds only to cancer cells, leaving normal cells unchanged. The discovery of this molecule can revolutionize medicine and help develop new effective cancer drugs that will have a minimum of side effects.
It is worth noting that another study conducted by French specialists identified substances in tobacco leaves that help in the treatment of cancerous tumors.
Researchers have identified taxoret and taxol in tobacco leaves, and experiments have shown that these substances help fight lung cancer and some other types of cancer. As one of the researchers noted, this discovery will help reduce the cost of anti-cancer drugs.
An interesting fact is that not only tobacco but also some other plants have an anti-cancer effect. In one study by scientists from Singapore, it was found that regular consumption of green tea can help prevent the development of cancer, as well as significantly slow down the development of an existing one.
According to statistics, about half of the deaths of men aged 35 to 65 are related to cancer. In most cases, the cause of death is cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, pharynx, and cardiovascular diseases. Most diseases are caused by smoking, and the Ministry of Health intends to continue the fight against nicotine addiction among the population.
Currently, the requirements for cigarette sales continue to become more stringent; according to some data, the cost of tobacco products may increase threefold by 2016. In addition, it is planned to make the design of cigarette packs of all tobacco brands identical, which will visually "equalize" the brands.