Indonesia, Researcher Developing Anti-Malaria Midicine

Bogor, W. Java (Antara) - Prof. Wasrin Syafii, researcher from the Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University, is developing an anti-malarial medicine from the extract of the Strychnos ligustrina tree, widely used by West Nusa Tenggara's locals as traditional medicine.

"The study of medicine takes a lot of time, at least two years," Syafii stated here on Monday (Feb 20).

According to the researcher, the study holds significance as the supply of malaria medicine is still low. Moreover, the disease is still prevalent in Indonesia.

He explained that the extract of Strychnos ligustrina contains high level of ethanol. The chemical materials contained in ethanol are strychnine and brucine, which are considered as anti-malarial compounds, among others.

The research on an anti-malaria drug extracted from Strychnos ligustrina is still underway and at the laboratory level by in vitro, meaning all processes are taking place in a test tube, culture dish, or elsewhere outside a living organism.

"The next phase of the study is in the laboratory by in vivo (a process performed or taking place in a living organism). Thereafter, we do a scaling up phase," he revealed.

Prof. Syafii said the raw materials for the drug are relatively easy to obtain, except for the Strychnos ligustrina tree, which is now rare. Hence, the cultivation of the trees is necessary to support the scaling up phase.(*)