Prostate cancer treatment has also been one of the most difficult one ever, since even medications fail sometimes and cause recurrence of the illness or late diagnosis kills patients the other times. But, the trend may exist no longer with a new hope for the same raised by a Chinese medicine, says a study published in the journal Molecular Endocrinology.

"Thunder God Vine" Tripterygium wilfordii, a plant that gives out Celastrol may prove extremely helpful in the development of a promising drug killing or atleast minimizing the tumour's growth. The reason, as per the team from Imperial College London, is that the antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory agent has the power to smother p23, a protein's activity.

While it was previously believed that HSP90 named protein is responsible for boosting prostate tumours' development, it has now been discovered p23 is the main intensifier. It is being said that targeting the same would not only have higher positive effects on patients, but less side effects as well.

Celastrol was however already known for curing arthritis and asthma, the new findings are being hoped to do wonders. "These results provide an alternative route by which scientists could potentially target prostate cancer", said Dr. Julie Sharp. Plans are now to test such drugs in the lab.