Calophyllum inophyllum oil has for long been well recognised for its
theurapeutic properties by local populations around its distribution area.

Research on Calophyllum inophyllum started in Madagascar in 1951. After a
slow down, research efforts increased after 1992 when the American Cancer
Institue discovered that the calanolides, isolated from Calophyllum
manigerum, where active against strains of HIV-1 in early stage
reproduction. An other group of tetracycle pyranocoumarins, the inophyllums,
was isolated from the genus Calophyllum. Both calanolides and inophyllums
inhibit HIV-1 RT. Numerous plant-derived compounds have been evaluated for
inhibitory effects on HIV replication in vitro. Anti - HIV coumarins have
been indentify to inhibit viral absorbtion, reverse transcription, protease
inhibition and integration in the HIV replication cycle. Clinical trials are
underway and show that the product tend to be well handeled by patients.

A patent has been granted to an American company for the Anti HIV
properties.

The market potential is of course enormous. Although the tree is easy to
grow, allready comon, the current local populations use is very limited in
terms of quantities available, the curent international market for the oils
is also very limited compared to availability, the seeds are easy to collect
by local populations, I heard that the industry says the ressource might not
be enought.

Planting more trees is not part of the agenda (except for us trying to
generate more income for the local populations we are working with in order
for them to be able to preserve the biodiversity of the nearby forest they
rely on for the moment), funding millions of dollars to synthetise the
molecule is on the agenda of course.

This molecule is however a complex one and it might be some time before the
cure comes out to a large number.

Ivor, we do fight. I had in mind just a few years ago that individuals could
make a difference, a few friends had to lent me a few thousands US$, but I
can see now that my will made that what was a 5000 accre forest meant to
disapear (with 134 medicinal plants in it) might be preserved while the
local populations around might see at the same time their standard of living
improving. My dream is to show people that each of us can do much more for a
better world. This applies also to private business needing to make some
profit.

Large scale goals like fighting against AIDS and wrong drug industry
development will need joint efforts. I am not a pharmacist but may be trying
to find out how we could push for research to look into the option of using
whole plant extract, could be a rewarding fight.

Standing up on its own can make one feel lonesome, but Ghandi sait "if you
sand up for a right cause, you'll soon see other people standing up by your
side", so lets have dreams as he did, and lets achieve at least some of
them.

Olivier

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Ivor Hughes

Oct 10, 2003