Hope for Alzheimer's blossoms in daffodil
Sep 6, 2005 - 12:12:00 AM
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"Galanthamine has major investment potential. Furthermore, the potential for Welsh hill farms is huge. The benefits are extensive, not only to Welsh bioscience and the pharmaceutical industry, but also to the ageing population."
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By Cardiff University,
[RxPG] A substance found in the Welsh national flower, which could offer hope for sufferers of Alzheimers disease, is being supported for large scale manufacture by Cardiff Universitys Manufacturing Engineering Centre (MEC).
Alzheimers disease is the most common form of dementia, making up 55 per cent of all cases of dementia. Dementia affects one person in 20 over the age of 65 and one person in five over the age of 80.
Certain species of daffodil, which thrive in the Black Mountains of South Powys, produce galanthamine, a leading drug in the alleviation of memory loss symptoms.
The Universitys Manufacturing Engineering Centre is now helping a company Alzeim Ltd (supported by Glasu, the EU funded LEADER+ Programme in Powys) to develop the agricultural potential of the daffodil as a medicinal plant along with the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
The Centre is providing support from harvesting in the field to marketing the pharmaceutical product. This includes assisting with the science of developing crops more than once a year and helping growers to assess when the best time to harvest the crop.
Frank Marsh, Marketing Director, The Manufacturing Engineering Centre said: "Galanthamine has major investment potential. Furthermore, the potential for Welsh hill farms is huge. The benefits are extensive, not only to Welsh bioscience and the pharmaceutical industry, but also to the ageing population."
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Additional information about the news article
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1. The Manufacturing Engineering Centre is one of the most advanced centres for manufacturing engineering in Europe, and is renowned as a multi-award-winning centre for design, development and manufacturing engineering. It employs some 80 people and has worked with more than 350 industrial partners on more than 2,100 projects in the last eight years. It is the first autonomous research centre to be created by Cardiff University.
2. Cardiff University is recognised in independent government assessments as one of Britains leading teaching and research universities. Founded by Royal Charter in 1883, the University today combines impressive modern facilities and a dynamic approach to teaching and research with its proud heritage of service and achievement. The Universitys breadth of expertise in research and research-led teaching encompasses: the humanities; the natural, physical, health, life and social sciences; engineering and technology; preparation for a wide range of professions; and a longstanding commitment to lifelong learning. From its outstanding central location amidst the parks, Portland-stone buildings and tree-lined avenues that form the citys elegant civic centre, the Universitys students and staff are drawn from throughout the world, attracted by its international reputation and commitment to innovation and excellence in all areas of activity. Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of Britains leading research universities. Having gained national and international standing, Cardiff Universitys vision is to be a world-class university and to achieve the associated benefits for its students, staff and all other stakeholders.
Visit the University website at: www.cardiff.ac.uk
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