Dr. A. Pratap Kumar was featured by Our Stories for his research on Nexrutine, which has long been used as an anti-inflammatory in ancient Chinese medicine, but Dr. Kumar was looking into it for its cancer-fighting potentials.

Dr. Kumar, a professor in the departments of Urology and Molecular Medicine, is fascinated by the possibilities in natural products, and for the past several years he has focused on an extract of Amur cork tree bark (Phellodendron amurense).

His early research shows that the cork tree bark extract could reduce the unpleasant side effects of some treatments, boost their efficacy, and possibly prevent cancer or slow its development.

“I don’t think it is going to cure cancer, but I think it is going to delay it significantly — and reduce side effects,” he said.

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Our Stories highlight patients, students, providers, researchers, alumni and staff at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio and their stories about health care innovation in action.