HERBAL DRUGS: Phytopharm, the UK biotechnology group which
specialises in traditional herbal remedies has been granted permission by the US Food and Drug Administration to start clinical trials of a treatment cream made from twelve plants for eczema. Phytopharm, which has links with companies in India, Indonesia and South Africa, has a number of botanical products under development, including a drug for arthritis developed from turmeric and a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Richard Dixey, chief executive of Phytopharm, said the decision was an important breakthrough for the company and for the development of botanical products in general.
CURE FOR AIDS: Two separate groups of Thai researchers have claimed to have developed drugs from traditional herbs which combat the HIV virus that leads to the deadly AIDS virus. Researchers at the Princess Chulabhorn Institute in Bangkok and another group in the northeastern province of Mukdaharn claim their medicines can help patients recover from full-blown AIDS. Decha Sukharom, a minister in the Thai government, said that the medicine would be clinically tested and then patented. "The medicine is made from traditional herbs which have no side-effects and is also cheaper," he said.
TELE INNOVATION: Television companies around the world are forever coming up with innovations to edge out their competitors. Now, LG Electronics Ltd has developed what it claims to be the world's first chip set for the next generation of digital televisions and set-top boxes. The new chip set provides all the key components for digital TVs, including two chips for the digital tuner and three chips for signal processing.
POWER PACT: US-based Enron Corp has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the RPG group to study the potential of marketing natural gas in West Bengal. This was announced by Rebecca Mark, CEO, Enron Development Corp recently. The alliance would look at the possibility of
generation, transmission and distribution of natural gas in the state. She also unveiled a proposal to set up a 570-km gas pipeline at an estimated cost of US $330 million in the
state. The proposed pipeline from West Bengal to Bangladesh would source the surplus gas reserves
present in Bangladesh, she said.
MOSQUITO CONTROL: A birth control method for mosquitoes has been
successfully tested by an American insect biochemist at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory
in the US. Dov Borovsky, who conducted the experiment, took 100,000 mosquito ovaries and then dried
and crushed them into a powder.
He then inserted them into chlorella -- a green algae collected from the surface ponds. In pill form, the chlorella is placed in bodies of
water where mosquitoes breed. He realised that the mosquitoes were not producing eggs as they could not digest the powder.
POWER PROJECT: The government of Uttar Pradesh has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Duncans Industries Ltd for the execution of 330 MW Shrinagar hydro project in the Garhwal region. A company release said that this project will provide for the annual power consumption of nearly three million people. Uttar Pradesh has a generating capacity of 5,550 MW
of which 1,505 MW is from hydroelectric power.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.