PHITSANULOK, Mar 23 – Naresuan University in Thailand’s northern province has announced successful research on extraction from a native plant, known as “Prommi”, which could stimulate memory and possibly prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Achara Eksaengsri, director of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO)’s Research and Development Institute, and Kornkanok Ingkaninan, chief of the Cosmetic and Natural Products Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Naresuan University, said a three-year research, financed at Bt14 million by the National Research Commission, found that saponins in Prommi plant could slow down brain cell deterioration, stimulate memory and prevent Alzheimer’s among elderly patients.
Saponins are also found in ginkgo and ginseng, they said.
A research was conducted among 60 people, aged 55-70. One group was given placebos and the other took Prommi extract at 300 and 600 milligrammes/day for three months.
Those taking Prommi extract had better quality of life, became more alert and had better concentration and memory.
The university has applied for a patent pending and produced prototype pills at 300 milligrammes each. Each bottle contains 60 pills.
They said some drug companies have expressed interest in manufacturing the pills, adding that Prommi pills are suitable for elderly people as well as children over 12 years of old.
