Iranian scientists have achieved the capacity of producing interferon-gamma, a fundamental substance for fighting cancer using herbal extracts, Press TV reported.
"The Iranian scientists have identified the herbal extracts that induce immune cells to produce interferon and activate toll-like receptors," said the head of the technology department at Teacher Training University Iran.
"Ampoule Injections given to patients diagnosed with cancer contain one milligram of interferon-gamma. Iran is currently importing the vital ampoules at the high cost of 2,800 dollars each," Esmaeil Saei told Mehr News Agency.
"With the domestic, plant-based production of this medicine we will cut costs to 10 percent of the current amount, which will lead to substantial savings in the country's expenses," he noted.
Saei also emphasized that unlike the foreign-manufactured drugs that have numerous side-effects, the domestic version of the medicine has no side-effects for patients since it is made from herbal extracts.
He added that the production of such vital substance raises the hope of producing interferon beta, a drug in the interferon family used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS).