The department of biochemistry of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has found out that turmeric when used in a combination drug therapy has properties to fight against Plasmodium Falciparum, which causes Malaria.

The research team led by Prof. G Padmanabhan, scientists emeritus and former IISc director, is in the process of patenting a combination drug using curcumin (turmeric extract) for treating malaria. “The three year-old research has shown that turmeric extract with another drug used as a combination therapy has worked effectively as a reliable malaria drug,” Prof. G Padmanabhan, noted. However, he declined to divulge further details about the drug combination citing the patent was pending.

Several industry partners have to team up for the production of this drug. Since many of the malaria drugs are expensive in the market, the new drug could be offered at cheaper prices, he said.

Talking about the malarial research he said the human genome project increases the chances to tackle the parasite gene expression and study the causes of the disease and insecticide resistance. The scientists have targeted 5,000 genes. The genome sequence study is on in the area of blood cell haemoglobin degradation to block the parasite. Now chloroquine, the cheapest available malarial drug, is turning drug resistant and scientists are now looking for an alternative.

In a study funded by the department of biotechnology, government of India, 48 out of the 50 blood samples collected from all over the country were found to be drug resistant and only two samples were sensitive to chloroquine. Another finding is that there is a higher concentration of odorant genes in some sections of the population, which is the cause of frequent mosquito bites, and studies are on to block the odour receptors in the insects.

World wide about 300 million people are affected with malaria each year. Out of these more than 2.7 million die each year worth over 90 per cent deaths reported from Africa. In India also the disease is also rampant but continues to account for over 1,000 deaths an year. Of the four species of one-celled parasites that cause malaria known as Plasmodium Falciparum is life threatening and widespread. The parasite is spread to people by the female Anopheles mosquito, which feeds on human blood. The problem is that it mutates efficiently and develops resistance to anti malaria drugs, stated Prof. Padmanabhan.