Scientists Decode How Plants Produce Cancer-Fighting Molecule Mitraphylline

Scientists at the University of British Columbia Okanagan have solved the mystery of how plants manufacture mitraphylline, a potent cancer-fighting molecule found in tropical trees. Their research, published in October 2025, identifies two critical enzymes that work together to create the compound's distinctive spiral-shaped molecular structure.

The breakthrough builds on previous work from 2023 when Dr. Thu-Thuy Dang's team discovered the first plant enzyme capable of forming the spirooxindole structure. Doctoral student Tuan-Anh Nguyen led the latest research phase, revealing how one enzyme determines the molecule's 3D configuration while another completes the final twist to form mitraphylline.

"This answers a long-standing question about how nature builds these complex molecules," explained Dr. Dang, Principal's Research Chair in Natural Products Biotechnology at UBC Okanagan. "It gives us a new way to replicate that process."

Mitraphylline belongs to a family of spirooxindole alkaloids known for their anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds are typically found in minute quantities in tropical trees like kratom and cat's claw, making them difficult and expensive to produce conventionally.

The discovery provides a framework for more efficient, sustainable production of mitraphylline and related therapeutic compounds using green chemistry approaches. The international collaboration between UBC Okanagan and the University of Florida was supported by multiple funding agencies in Canada and the United States.