The Manipal Journal
MCOPS' Doctor develops unique Malaria cure
25 September, 2009 09:06:00 Soubhik Ray
Manipal: Dr Prakash Tahiliani, a doctor of the Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS), practicing traditional medicine for years now besides being an allopathic practitioner, has now come up with a drug named 'Plasmonil' to cure Malaria, after thorough research.
MCOPS organized a special seminar on Monday, Sep 21st, in order to give a brief about the development of a new anti-malarial drug 'Plasmonil' by Dr Tahiliani.
Some of the major drugs that are used to cure malaria are; Quinine, Chloroquine, Amodiaquine, Sulphadoxine, Pyrimethamine, Proguanil, Mefloquine, Atovaquone, Primaquine and Clindamycin.
For the malaria parasite primarily Chloroquine is the drug used. However, some malaria parasites are resistant to this medication and a combination of other drugs may be required. With some species of malaria parasites, special treatment is necessary to get rid of the parasites that embed themselves in the liver cells. The malaria patient if not accustomed to the medication may develop complications, such as anemia, develop kidney failure, fluid imbalance or brain damage. It usually takes a few weeks to recover completely from malaria.
Plasmonil, the new drug developed by Dr Tahiliani has been tested on 40,000 patients till now with success.
"According to latest reports compiled in the year 2006, a total of 62864 cases of malaria were reported from Karnataka of which 15664 (24%) were from Mangalore and Dakshina Kannada", said P Hemalatha, Deputy Commissioner, Udupi.
Speaking at the seminar, Hemalatha added, "In Udupi district the number of malaria cases has witnessed a fall with 195 cases registered till May 2009 as compared to 212 in the previous year. No deaths have been registered this year in comparison to one death recorded in 2008". She also accredited the check in malaria to strategic implementations of plans like NVBDC (National Vector Borne Disease Control) and EDCD (Early Detection and Complete Treatment).
