SAMOAN MEDICINAL PLANTS UNDER SROS’ MICROSCOPE
By: Asenati Taugasolo Semu
The Scientific Research Organization of Samoa (SROS) is exploring the potentials to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 from Samoan medicinal plants.
Said SROS’ Manager Plants & Postharvest Technologies Division, Masuisuiolemalietoa Dr. Seeseei Molimau-Samasoni;
“Numerous previous research have identified Samoan medicinal plants with anti-viral activity. Given that COVID 19 is a virus, there is potential for anti-COVID treatment being present in Samoan medicinal plants,” said Masuisuiolemalietoa.
But the research cannot proceed as Samoa is one of the few countries in the world which continues to be COVID-free.
“The research that SROS is currently carrying out on traditional medicinal plants targets health concern issues,” continued Masuisuiolemalietoa. “For instance, antimicrobial resistance (the ability of disease causing bacteria to withstand antibiotic treatment is an increasing problem in Samoa.
“There is a high percentage of resistance in Samoan bacterial isolates against antibiotics such as amoxicillin.
“Additionally, there is an increasing incidence of diabetes in Samoa together with other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that is causing an economic burden on the government.
“Furthermore, cancer is becoming a serious killer in Samoa, so if Samoans are able to turn to medicinal plants as a source of relief for these health issues, potentially it will be a great benefit for Samoa in general.”
Masuisuiolemalietoa said given the limited equipment resources at SROS due to limited funding, Samoa has had to forge partnerships with overseas universities and institutes with proven track records in natural products research.
“For instance, SROS is working in collaboration with the Maurice Wilkins Centre, the Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Otago in New Zealand. These universities offer their equipment for SROS scientists to use not only for research purposes, but also to train and build the capacity of Samoan SROS scientists.”
On the process and how SROS go about with their research, Masuisuiolemalietoa said they first seek approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) to collect samples for research, and to export samples should the research require.
“MNRE under our Letter of Agreement also has the responsibility to contact and seek approval from private land owners if sampling from them is required. We have also sampled plants from national parks, nature and forestry reserves and within SROS grounds. Plants are then allocated a unique identifier, and extracted using specific solvents. Extracts from plants are then assessed if they have the ability to inhibit or reduce the growth of bacteria, if they’re able to reduce diabetes, or if they have anti-cancer activity.
“When promising activity is detected, the compound(s) responsible for the activity is purified and identified, and its mechanism of action is determined (though MOA studies need to be carried out in New Zealand).
“From there, we hope to continue on the avenue of clinical trials to determine their potential as pharmaceutical agents. Alternatively, there is also the pathway of preparing drinks from specific plant extracts that promote or help with certain health conditions.”
