PATENT ARISING FROM RESEARCH FINDINGS AT THE PARASITE RESEARCH LABORATORIES, DEPARTMENT OF IFE SCIENCES, THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES (MONA CAMPUS) JAMAICA

[PATENT: Forbes, W.M., Robinson, R.D and Reese, P.B. (Inventors), The University of the West Indies and Scientific Research Council of Jamaica (Assignee). (2002). Medicaments for the treatment of Strongyloides stercoralis infections.]

“Laboratory studies of the activity of extracts of selected Jamaican plants against infective larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis (Nematoda),” conducted at the Parasite Research Laboratories of The University of the West Indies (Mona Campus), have resulted in the issue of Letters Patent (shown above) by the Government of Jamaica to protect the important findings. This serves as a first for the Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, The University of the West Indies (Mona Campus), Jamaica.

Strongyloides stercoralis (threadworm) infection is clinically the most severe parasitic disease of humans in Jamaica and other Caribbean countries. The infection is not easily diagnosed, and is intrinsically more resistant to treatment and control than other geohelminthiases. This skin penetrating parasite is capable of reproducing within its host frequently causing exceedingly long-enduring, low-grade internal infections. However, these mild infections may be exacerbated by immunosuppressive therapy or disease, poor host nutrition or intercurrent infections. The resulting hyperinfective, or disseminated, strongyloidiasis may be fatal if appropriate treatment is not forthcoming. Thiabendazole, which belongs to the benzimidazole group of drugs, remained the drug of choice for treating strongyloidiasis for many years. However, its poor efficacy, harmful side effects and high cost has prompted the need for an alternative source of chemotherapy, which is safer and more efficacious.

Plants in the form of juices and teas have been used for treating human maladies since ancient times. In Jamaican folklore, extracts of plants are commonly used as anti-worm concoctions. This, in addition to preliminary studies conducted by a team of scientists at The University of the West Indies hinted at the anti-worm activity of some Jamaican plants. In order to verify these claims, a collaborative study was launched by The University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) and the Scientific Research Council of Jamaica (provided funding in part) to scientifically screen extracts of twenty-five (25) such plants in vitro. S. stercoralis infective larvae were used as the test organisms in all assays.

Arising from this study, the team of scientists (inventors) successfully identified the crude extract that was the most potent of the plants examined, and subjected it to further scrutiny by fractionation and bioassay-driven chromatographic techniques. The active component was identified, isolated and purified. When compared with the active ingredients of the commercial drugs thiabendazole, albendazole and ivermectin (a broad-spectrum anthelmintic) against S. stercoralis, the potency of the active compond proved to be 7-80 fold greater. Toxicological and clinical studies are currently underway to determine the safe use of eryngial in human and animal strongyloidiasis.