Curcumin from turmeric has anti-malarial properties: IISc

A new research at the Indian Institute of Sciences (IIsc) 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.

Padmanaban said that malaria along with tuberculosis and HIV are classified as major killers, and there is no vaccine to treat these diseases.

The frontline drug used to treating malaria 'Cloroquinine' is not as effective and has developed resistance, he said adding that the second line of drug 'Antifolex' has also toed the same line.

Two species—P Falcifarum and P Vivax—are the major species causing malaria. In India, P Vivax species causes 80% of the malaria but does not kill. It however causes morbidity loss of man-hours and economic loss, he said.