Goji berries, which are full of nutrients, are a popular remedy.
According to a study, the brightly colored berries could also be used to
treat two fatal tropical diseases.The research was published in the
European Journal of Medical Chemistry.
Can goji berries fight the parasites that cause fascioliasis and schistosomiasis?
The research centered around a new plant-based drug that may help cure
life-threatening tropical diseases. The promising drug was created
through a collaboration between Aberystwyth University and Cardiff
University, two Welsh universities.
The research team, which was led by Professor Andrew Westwell from
Cardiff University, developed a drug compound from the goji berry plant.
The drug is active against the parasites that cause fascioliasis and
schistosomiasis.
About 17 million people worldwide are currently infected with
fascioliasis, with figures set to increase. Meanwhile, schistosomiasis,
which isn’t as widely known, is the second most deadly human parasitic
disease after malaria. At least 600 million people currently have
schistosomiasis and the disease claims about 300,000 lives annually.
Schistosomiasis is spread by a waterborne parasite, while fascioliasis
is spread by a foodborne parasite. Both of the diseases are treated with
a single drug that’s widely administered to the population where the
diseases are widespread.
Unfortunately, this kind of single treatment usually causes drug
resistance, especially among those who are most susceptible to these
diseases. To address this concern, the team of researchers worked
together to develop the goji berry-based treatment.
Westwell from Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
Sciences explained that the research team is hopeful that the
plant-based drug can be the key to providing “major health benefits for
some of the world’s poorest people who are at risk of contracting
schistosomiasis and fascioliasis.” (Related: Why goji berries might be
the Holy Grail of health.)
The research was funded by the Welsh government’s Life Science Research
Network of Wales. Meanwhile, the drug design was developed at Cardiff
University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences while its
effectiveness took place at Aberystwyth University.
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