Joanna Cosgrove07.01.09
In the U.S., the Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum) is synonymous with spring and the Easter holiday season, but these plants are more than just sweet smelling flowers. Researchers at Rutgers University (RU) in New Jersey have been studying the unique anti-cancer properties of the lily bulb and so far, the research is very encouraging.
The research developed out of Rutgers' Lilium species breeding program, which develops hybrid lilies as potted plants for holiday sales and as plants for the garden. According to Thomas Gianfagna, lead researcher and professor of plant biology in RU's Plant Biology & Pathology department, lily bulbs are used in China as a food and medicine to treat coughs and upper respiratory infections.
Although the lily's active compounds are unknown, lily bulbs contain significant quantities of steroidal glycosides and polyphenols that may be responsible for biological activity. Further, plants in the lily family contain steroidal saponins, which are cytotoxic to cancer cells. "We decided to try and identify the steroidal glycosides from our bulbs to determine if they have medicinal or cosmetic value," professor Gianfagna said
The research developed out of Rutgers' Lilium species breeding program, which develops hybrid lilies as potted plants for holiday sales and as plants for the garden. According to Thomas Gianfagna, lead researcher and professor of plant biology in RU's Plant Biology & Pathology department, lily bulbs are used in China as a food and medicine to treat coughs and upper respiratory infections.
Although the lily's active compounds are unknown, lily bulbs contain significant quantities of steroidal glycosides and polyphenols that may be responsible for biological activity. Further, plants in the lily family contain steroidal saponins, which are cytotoxic to cancer cells. "We decided to try and identify the steroidal glycosides from our bulbs to determine if they have medicinal or cosmetic value," professor Gianfagna said
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