Cyclotides are a group of compounds found in violets

Together with visiting scientist Dr. Samantha Gerlach, we found that circular proteins called cyclotides extracted from violets could allow us to reduce eight-fold the dose of TMZ, a chemotherapeutic agent for glioblastoma.

This would slow the evolution of drug resistance of brain cancer cells to TMZ. We are now trying to purify a sufficient dose of the cyclotide to test in mice.

Our paper detailing our discovery will soon appear online in the Journal of Natural Products.