I am a great believer in natural remedies as my blog here states. The article here below is from the Daily Mail. And yes I would agree Nature and the Universe gave us a vast array of resources to deal with sickness.
Researchers from Queen's University in Belfast have accidentally stumbled upon a potential treatment for up to 70 diseases including cancer, diabetes and strokes.
They were doing research on the little-known Waxy Monkey Frog from South America when they discovered some unusual properties in its skin's secretions.
The Giant Fire-bellied Toad, native to China and Vietnam, was also found to have the potential to treat an array of diseases.
Professor Shaw, who led the research said: 'The aim of our work at Queen's is to unlock the potential of the natural world - in this case the secretions found on frog and toad skins - to alleviate human suffering.
'We are absolutely convinced that the natural world holds the solutions to many of our problems.
'We just need to pose the right questions to find them.'
The team of researchers were testing a range of proteins taken from secretions from frogs and toads.
They soon realised proteins in the secretions - which the frogs and toads use as protection from predators - also control the growth of blood vessels - a process known as angiogenesis.
Professor Shaw said: 'The proteins that we have discovered have the ability to either stimulate or inhibit the growth of blood vessels.
'By switching off angiogenesis and inhibiting blood vessel growth, a protein from the waxy monkey frog has the potential to kill cancer tumours.
'Most cancer tumours can only grow to a certain size before they need blood vessels to grow into the tumour to supply it with vital oxygen and nutrients.
'Stopping the blood vessels from growing will make the tumour less likely to spread and may eventually kill it.
Professor Shaw said the discovery could allow surgeons to remove tumours, and that the protein from the frog could be used to stop remaining cancer cells from growing further.
He said: 'It wouldn't cure the cancer but it would stop it from developing any further and allow the person to live a normal life.'
Secretions from the Giant Firebellied Toad have the opposite effect. They stimulate blood vessel growth.
The Professor said: 'This has the potential to treat conditions that require blood vessels to repair quickly, such as wound healing, organ transplants, diabetic ulcers and damage caused by strokes or heart conditions.'
Natural remedies: Frog and toad skin extracts could help treat more than 70 diseases
Researchers from Queen's University in Belfast have accidentally stumbled upon a potential treatment for up to 70 diseases including cancer, diabetes and strokes.
They were doing research on the little-known Waxy Monkey Frog from South America when they discovered some unusual properties in its skin's secretions.
The Giant Fire-bellied Toad, native to China and Vietnam, was also found to have the potential to treat an array of diseases.
Vein shrinker: Researchers doing a study on Waxy Monkey Frogs accidentally stumbled upon a potential treatment for up to 70 diseases including cancer
'We are absolutely convinced that the natural world holds the solutions to many of our problems.
'We just need to pose the right questions to find them.'
The team of researchers were testing a range of proteins taken from secretions from frogs and toads.
They soon realised proteins in the secretions - which the frogs and toads use as protection from predators - also control the growth of blood vessels - a process known as angiogenesis.
Professor Shaw said: 'The proteins that we have discovered have the ability to either stimulate or inhibit the growth of blood vessels.
Opposite effect: Secretion from the Giant Firebellied Toad stimulates blood vessel growth - making it useful for wound healing, organ transplants, diabetic ulcers and damage caused by strokes
'Most cancer tumours can only grow to a certain size before they need blood vessels to grow into the tumour to supply it with vital oxygen and nutrients.
'Stopping the blood vessels from growing will make the tumour less likely to spread and may eventually kill it.
Professor Shaw said the discovery could allow surgeons to remove tumours, and that the protein from the frog could be used to stop remaining cancer cells from growing further.
He said: 'It wouldn't cure the cancer but it would stop it from developing any further and allow the person to live a normal life.'
Secretions from the Giant Firebellied Toad have the opposite effect. They stimulate blood vessel growth.
The Professor said: 'This has the potential to treat conditions that require blood vessels to repair quickly, such as wound healing, organ transplants, diabetic ulcers and damage caused by strokes or heart conditions.'
