Researchers have finally uncovered nature’s “recipe” for producing a rare plant compound with cancer-fighting properties.

Date: May 12, 2026

Source: University of British Columbia – Okanagan

Scientists at UBC Okanagan have discovered the process by which plants produce mitraphylline, a rare natural compound with potential anti-cancer effects. The team identified two enzymes that work together to form the molecule’s unusual twisted structure, solving a mystery that had puzzled researchers for years. Since mitraphylline occurs only in trace amounts in tropical plants such as kratom and cat’s claw, this discovery could make its sustainable production much easier in the future.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260512213836.htm