Hyderabad: A new research at the Indian
Institute of Sciences in Bangalore has found that a drug
combined with curcumin from turmeric can prove to be effective
in treating malaria.
The drug has been developed by Professor G Padmanaban
from the Department of Biochemistry, at the prestigious
institute.
The research has found out that a combination of
curcumin which is extracted from turmeric (haldi) a spice used
in Indian kitchens commonly, has anti-malarial activity when
combined with Artemisinin and proves lethal for the malaria
parasite, Padmanaban, who was here to deliver the foundation
lecture at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
(CCMB) told reporters.
Curcumin combined with Artemisinin has been the most
effective in mouse malaria and studies done so far indicate
that this combination is cent percent successful with no
resistant, he said.
Since resistant is being shown up with Artemisinin,
combination with curcumin is the most ideal, effective and
cheap to eradicate the disease, he added.
Presently, clinical trials are on in humans to test
this drug. After all trials are successful the drug is likely
to be available within three years time, Padmanaban added.
Bureau Report