Do Rain forest trees hold a cancer cure?

Answer 1

We don't know,

First of all cancer isn't just 'a' disease. Cancer is a term used to describe any cell lineage in tissue that displays uncontrolled growth and mortality. There are literally hundreds of types of cancer and it is extremely unlikely any one thing can cure them all.

Have we found any cures of anything from the rainforest's? Despite peoples insistence that many pharmaceuticals have come from the rainforest's only a few actually do and none of them are used widely in the medical community. [If anyone wants to correct me over this please name the drug].

However, a large percentage of drugs have being isolated from plants. Aspirin, penicillin and tacrolimus-sirolimus have all revolutionist the medical world and all have being isolated from flora. It's just as likely that a cure will come from a coral reef, bushland or a common garden weed.

[additional]

This whole thing about 'a cancer cure coming from the rainforest's' was popularized by the 1992 movie 'medicine man' where a cure for lymphoma was discovered in a rain-forest that was then destroyed. The argument is used by environmental groups to try to add to the rainforest's intrinsic value.

Answer 2

Some rainforest trees have been found to contain compounds that have potential anticancer properties. However, further research and testing are needed to determine their effectiveness as a cancer cure. Many pharmaceutical companies are looking to the rainforest for new sources of medicine.