Neglected diseases of the bottom billion: potential drug candidates from Malaysian biodiversity resources

Getha K., . and Muhd Haffiz J., . and Mohd IIham A., . and Lili Sahira H., . and Roshan Jahn M. S., . and Mohd. Fadzly A. J. I., . and Lim K. T., . and Amyra A. S., . and Azimah A., . and Chuah B. C., . and Mohd Firdaues M. S., . and Muhammad Syamil A., . and Norhayati I., . and Zuriati Z., . and Mohd Naffidi A. L., . (2013) Neglected diseases of the bottom billion: potential drug candidates from Malaysian biodiversity resources. [Proceedings Paper]

Neglected diseases are diseases that disproportionately affect the poorest populations in the world. Often said to be diseases of the bottom billion they are often overlooked in research policy and social agendas. The World Health Organization has grouped seventeen diseases on the basis of their prevalence in the world;s poorest regions and their destructive impact on patients; lives and local economies. These diseases neglected by the public eye and in research agendas actually account for over half a million deaths per year and debilitated over a billion people. Human African Trypanosomiasis HAT or commonly known as Sleeping Sickness is a parasitic disease transmitted through ;Glossina an insect commonly known as the tsetse fly. This disease affects 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa and more than 70 million people and is considered to be the first or second greatest cause of mortality compared to HIV/ AIDS in these communities. Based on the report by the World Health Organization WHO the number of cases is expected to rise in years to come. Treatment of this disease is often decades old are difficult to administer have significant toxicities and are increasingly becoming less effective due to resistance. The identification of new potential anti-trypanosomal drug candidates should be an urgent priority. As part of our screening programme on plants and microbial extracts we have established a medium throughput screening assay for in vitro anti-trypanosomal activity. A number of active compounds with good anti-trypanosomal activity have been isolated and identified. The potentials of plants and microbes as sources of lead compounds which can be further developed or optimized into drug for HAT disease will be discussed.

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Abstract

Neglected diseases are diseases that disproportionately affect the poorest populations in the world. Often said to be diseases of the bottom billion they are often overlooked in research policy and social agendas. The World Health Organization has grouped seventeen diseases on the basis of their prevalence in the world;s poorest regions and their destructive impact on patients; lives and local economies. These diseases neglected by the public eye and in research agendas actually account for over half a million deaths per year and debilitated over a billion people. Human African Trypanosomiasis HAT or commonly known as Sleeping Sickness is a parasitic disease transmitted through ;Glossina an insect commonly known as the tsetse fly. This disease affects 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa and more than 70 million people and is considered to be the first or second greatest cause of mortality compared to HIV/ AIDS in these communities. Based on the report by the World Health Organization WHO the number of cases is expected to rise in years to come. Treatment of this disease is often decades old are difficult to administer have significant toxicities and are increasingly becoming less effective due to resistance. The identification of new potential anti-trypanosomal drug candidates should be an urgent priority. As part of our screening programme on plants and microbial extracts we have established a medium throughput screening assay for in vitro anti-trypanosomal activity. A number of active compounds with good anti-trypanosomal activity have been isolated and identified. The potentials of plants and microbes as sources of lead compounds which can be further developed or optimized into drug for HAT disease will be discussed.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. QK99 M3S471 2012 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	Medicinal plants
AGROVOC Term:	Drug plants
AGROVOC Term:	Disease treatment
AGROVOC Term:	Plant extracts
AGROVOC Term:	Sleeping sickness
AGROVOC Term:	Trypanosoma
AGROVOC Term:	Trypanosoma brucei
AGROVOC Term:	Parasitic diseases
AGROVOC Term:	Trypanocidal drugs
AGROVOC Term:	Antiprotozoal agents
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:16
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/13707

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