Singapore promotes exploitation of "natural medicine" to treat cancers
Singaporean researchers are investigating tropical plants commonly used by cancer patients for their purported anti-cancer properties to see if they can be used in the management or treatment of certain cancers.
Singapore (VNA) - Singaporean researchers are investigating tropical plants commonly used by cancer patients for their purported anti-cancer properties to see if they can be used in the management or treatment of certain cancers.
They are starting with the bandicoot berry, Sabah snake grass and moringa, which they have already sequenced, along with 97 other plant species from the region.
These plants are all found in the genomic garden at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), which was set up by the SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Biodiversity Medicine (BD-Med) for genomic research and conservation purposes.
The three plants are being screened against approximately 10 different cancer cell lines, including breast, colorectal, lung, liver and kidney cancers, to validate the response. A cancer cell line is a culture of cancer cells that are grown indefinitely in a laboratory setting, serving as a model for scientists to study cancer biology and test potential treatments.
🎃 This is, however, a long and complex process. The research is still in its early stages, and it may take five to six years before any findings can progress to clinical trials and be translated to the bedside, according to researchers./.
Researchers validated the system using tissue samples from 231 patients across five hospitals. Further validation studies are scheduled to begin later this year.
Treatment using Imcranib 100 is now available at Chulabhorn Hospital, signicantly reducing treatment costs and increasing access to care for Thai patients, according to the CRA.
In addition to this study, Dr. Kurniawan has been researching other natural compounds with potential anticancer properties, highlighting the role of local biodiversity in the search for safer, plant-based treatments.
A discussion on Vietnamese cuisine, culture and tourism was held in Tel Aviv on September 14, aiming to deepen the understanding of Vietnamese culture and promote people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Israel, especially as the two countries expand cooperation across multiple fields.
Confirmed initiatives include the revival of the popular "Half-Half" co-payment scheme. Other proposals under discussion - though not yet finalised - include the "We Travel Together" tourism stimulus programme, decentralisation efforts and disaster mitigation strategies.
Fidel’s words to the gathered soldiers: “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its own blood!” captured the very essence of the friendship forged between the two nations, a relationship nurtured through resilience, dignity, and internationalist spirit.
The satellite Nusantara 5 (N5), launched by Indonesia, is expected to strengthen connectivity in Indonesia's eastern region, supporting distance learning, digital health care, and providing access to information and entertainment for remote communities.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is preparing 17 locations to be designated as specific national strategic areas (KSNT) for blue carbon reserves.
The ASEAN task force is not identical to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) but is intended to serve as a platform for collective discussions and joint actions when ASEAN countries face shared threats.
The 19th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) on September 11 agreed to present three ASEAN Leaders’ Declarations at the 47th ASEAN Summit in this October.
With clashes arising from time to time worldwide, Asia should continue to keep dialogue channels open, exercise restraint when conflicts emerge, and strengthen regional mechanisms that can help manage differences.
In addition to rice, Indonesia is resolute in prohibiting imports of corn and table sugar in 2025, and is determined to optimise domestic production through pro-farmer policies in pursuit of food self-sufficiency.
Thailand, now ranked first in the world for weather modification, continues to expand its royal rainmaking programme to combat drought and support agriculture nationwide.
The 10 initiatives include restoring the ecosystems and the availability of food-producing land, intensification and assistance for farmers, developing community-based food systems, increasing local food diversification, and increasing animal protein consumption, among others.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is tapping into India’s high-spending wedding market through The Celebration with Care Wedding Planners Fam Trip & Trade Meet.
Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo has revealed that the Southeast Asian country’s delegation is proposing palm oil exports as part of efforts to further reduce the US's current 19% reciprocal tariffs.
Heavy seasonal rains, which usually occur from September through March, regularly cause flooding and landslides in Indonesia. This year’s extreme events again highlight how vulnerable many communities are to natural disasters
The 19th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) on September 10 endorsed the ASEAN Plan of Action on Combating Transnational Crime for 2026–2035, providing a framework to address transnational crime challenges over the next decade.
Funding will come from the 25-billion-THB central stimulus fund for 2026, with flexibility to reallocate resources if needed, according to the Thai Ministry of Finance.
