IX International Symposium on Vectors and Vector Borne Diseases -15-17 February 2008.
Punicalgin, Punicafolin, Effective Against Drug-Resistant Malarial
1 - DEEPAK BHATTACHARYA
2 – INDIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY, KORAPUT (i) Secretary & (ii) Medical officer (Ay),.
1 - NGO cum Social Service Org, Radha Krishna, Kedar Gouri Road, Bhubaneswar, India-751002. oddisilab1@dataone.in
2 – C/o DISTRICT MAGISTRATE cum COLLECTOR, KORAPUT, India.

ABSTRACT
Debilitating malaria has become a disease of the home in over populated developing nations like India. The nations are mostly in the tropo-eqautorial domain of the Afro-Asian regions. Koraput of Orissa is a constituent of such region, her natives being of tribal stock, non migrating inhabitants with a known history of the whole community being effected by malariasis ever since modern medicine went to Koraput [1]. A home level therapy termed OMARIA (Orissa Malaria Research Indigenous Attempt) has been in motion since 06/1998 under the aegis of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS). Clinical, pathological services and OMARIA were and continues to be provided FREE [2]. It has been extended continuously due to popular demand. Invented by author No.1 it is used by the IRCS author No.2. OMARIA is sun dried dermis powder of Punica granatum Linn at choloroplast stage i.e. immature [Fig.1]. Is filled into gelatin capsules of size No.1 @ 500mg (approx.). A single dose consists of 2gm (4 capsules), 3 dose/day 8 hourly for 2 consecutive days delivers therapeutics (4x3x2=24caps). Pathological and biochemical investigation indicates complete clearance of haemoprotozoa within 36 hrs., [3]. Thereafter, projection of prophylaxis is noted for months. A mono dose of 1gm/day (2caps) for 2 days/week delivers prophylaxis. Patients were diagonised as MP+ by the pathologist of the District hospital. Then were given OMARIA at IRCS clinic. Patients having fever or acute defervescence cycle were additionally given ayurvedic liquid preparation (M.N. Rasa) @ 5ml/dose three times/day or paracetamol (4-Acetamedophenol) @500mg one dose for the first 24 hours only (free stock availability). Select cases were required to report to the IRCS clinic every day or the clinician visited. Peripheral blood test was conducted after 48 hours and again after 7 days. All patients were required to fill up IRCS-declaration form with left hand thumb impression (no relaxation. Even advocates had to put their LTI). Various dose-period combinations were tried and cases continue to be tracked ranging over very long periods [4]. Short course of 6gm/day/adult dose was felt as a standard therapeutics. No inducements, advertisements or invitations were made. Therapeutics and prophylaxis is reported even when the native works, lives, stays mostly bare-bodied in mud houses amidst tropical evergreen flora & sleeps without mosquito net in core drug resistant Pf endemic zone or even when commutes, immigrates to non OMARIA medicated drug resistant endemic regions or co-habits (net-less) with affliction active drug resistant historical carriers in common tenement having effective carriers. Blocks transmission. Apparently has a hepatic and non hepatic mode of action. Therapeutic results upto 2003 is presented in [Table-I]. Initially station master Damanjodi, officials from the Collectorate and other educated people who were being afflicted by bouts of malariasis (>4/yr), they who were not responding to modern medicine, few cases who were natives, few cases who were innately hyper sensitive to the contra & side effects of modern pharmacology were put on (observational) Prophylactic courses of variable periods. Various dose period combination observation was also attempted. It is observed that sub-clinical dosing @ 1-2gm/day/week/adult seemed to provide effective prophylaxis. After a year of observation having very encouraging results, the IRCS organized a whole village comprehensive prevention programme (WVCPP). It included prevention of Measles & Chicken pox [5]. 4 villages (Badamput, Gunthaguda, Panaspada & Mundaguda) were identified and every resident was put on prophylactic course. Children below 8yrs were given ½ the dose. After variable periods ranging between 2 –4 months of continuous (only) OMARIA intake it was withdrawn and the whole sub-populations were left to (weekly) clinical observation ranging for over next 2 yrs. Various villages were adopted at various periods of the year to include ‘season-effect’. No mosquito net use or any change in life style was advised. Villagers lived the way they were used to. However, confounding was strictly prohibited and monitored. 100% tribal villages were selected also to observe the efficacy of OMARIA among such sub-population as because they are historical carriers, historically drug resistant, chronically tertian type (pali jwara) and also very susceptible to the side effects of Multi Drug Therapies (MDT) / Artimisinin Combined Therapies (ACT) and even to Choloroquinn and also because cerebral malariasis was also reported from these villages. Table-II gives the result at 6months [6].

 

Table – I Table – II
[ 4 Villages ] 
T. Homes ……….. 88
T .Inhabitants …………. 411
Infants ……………. 50
Child …………… 80
Adult …………… 239
Old …………… 26
Malaria ………………Nil
Measles …………… Nil
C pox …………….. NIl
New Born …………. 12 *
* Births during pendency of OMARIA- P modality
 

Bar No Heads of Observations Nos.
1 No of Cases Treated ……………………………… 531
2 Clinically afflicted at Report ……………………… 531
3 Cases having History of < 5 episodes / yr ………… 176
4 Cases having History of > 5 episodes / yr ………… 355
5 Cases Switched from Allopathy ………………… 115
6 Cases Reported Contradiction …………………… 00
7 Cases Reported Side Effects …………………… 00
8 Re-affliction within 6 months of OMARIA -C … 61
9 Re-affliction within 1 yr of OMARIA -C ……… 76
10 Re-affliction within 2 yrs. of OMARIA -C ……… 382
11 Cases who said or Felt OMARIA -C is better …… 501
12 Partly Compliant …………………………………11
13 100 % Compliant ………………………………….512
14 Pre & Post Treatment Blood Slides …………… 150
15 Infants below 5 yrs of age ………………………… 42
16 Child between 5 & 15 yrs …………………………90
17 Geriatric stage afflictions ( above 60 yrs ) ……… 71
18 Cases with Confounding Therapy …….………… 32
19 Pregnant & Lactating mothers … …………….Not noted
 

In all stages of infestation ranging between geriatric to infant, all sex OMARIA was (and continues) noted to be effective in smooth fail safe manner in Pregnancy & Lactation stage sans adverse effects. P. granatum yields tannin which on hydrolysis in gastric chamber yield 3 organic acid moieties Punicalin, Punicalgin, Punicafolin [Fig.2&3], of low pH & pKa values, N+ & K+, are the constituent active anti-plasmocidal principles and motor. Jointly and severally they act also as process scavengers, hematinic, ant-diahreal, anti-viral, anti-neoplasia, etc. Anti-plasmodial activity is found and reported for the first time. Apparently better than Artimisinin group. A tannin-ion pathway is underscored by OMARIA [7]. Although pali-jwara was known centuries ago, although dermis powder of P. granatum finds mention in various Ayurvedic formulations, no reference to fever or to pali-jwara is encountered in cognate literature or in traditions. It is a original find and a paradigm shift among anti-malarials world-wide. No previous use report record (prior to 1999). Preferred by the historically afflicted sub-population over conventional MDTs / ACTs. Decadal review indicates fail, safe cure, prevention, nil contradiction, no resistance, no dependence. No cerebral malaria reported in complaint cases. P. granatum is a year round fruiting, medicinal herb based fruit, native to India. Offers scope for validation in other regions/continents and climatic conditions. In-vitro studies has confirmed Punica’s efficacy against drug resistance W2 strain in-vitro [8,9]. Further multi-lateral inquest is warranted. All are invited to participate. 

Ref. :- [1] D. Bhattacharya, The Pharma Review , Vol.1, No.1, 2002, pp.80-84.
[2] ------, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 69 – No. 3, Sep. 2003, pp. 484.
[3] ------, Indian Medical Association – 79th Annual Conference-MEDICON, 2004, pp. 23-25.
[4] ------, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, No. 968, Vol. 171-No. 4, Oct. 2004, p. 288.
[5] ------, 4th Multi Lateral Initiative on Malaria, Pan African Malaria Conference 13-18th Nov. 2005.
[6] ------, Indian Science Congress Association : Bhubaneswar Chapter, 11th & 12th 2005pp. 76-84.
[7] ------, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Philadelphia, 04-08, Nov.2007.
[8] M.K. Reddy at.al., PLANTA MEDICA, 2007;73: pp.461-67. [9] Others.
 

SELECT REFERENCES
[1] D. Bhattacharya, The Pharma Review , Vol.1, No.1, 2002, pp.80-84.
[2] D. Bhattacharya, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 69 – No. 3, Sep. 2003, pp. 484.
[3] D. Bhattacharya,, Indian Medical Association – 79th Annual Conference-MEDICON, 2004, pp. 23-25.
[4] D. Bhattacharya, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, No. 968, Vol. 171-No. 4, Oct. 2004, p. 288.
[5] D. Bhattacharya, 4th Multi Lateral Initiative on Malaria, Pan African Malaria Conference 13-18th Nov. 2005.
[6] D. Bhattacharya, Indian Science Congress Association : Bhubaneswar Chapter, 11th & 12th 2005pp. 76-84.
[7] D. Bhattacharya, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Philadelphia, 04-08, Nov.2007.
[8] D. Bhattacharya, 95TH , Indian Science Congress: POSTER, Vishakhapatnam, 5/01-2008.
[9] D. Bhattacharya, IX International Symposium on Vectors and Vector Borne Diseases -15-17 February 2008.
[10] M.K. Reddy at.al., PLANTA MEDICA, 2007;73: pp.461-67. 
[11] Others.
 

DATA SHEET
A  Anti-Malaria  herbal  capsule has been developed in Orissa. 
It is the only one from India as well. 
It is also a ORIGINAL invention.
In the world there are two parent / original source - Quinnine from Quillaja bark from the Amazon basin that yields Quinine and Cholorquine and the other is Artemisinin herb from China.     
The  3rd is  now  from  India.  The west  says  it is  good. Light  years better &  Original.
The Artimisinin derivatives are known as Artemether, Artisunate , etc. They are very expensive. They are Alkaloids. We know they are also chemotherapies. When we promote Artimisinin Most of the money goes away to China.
OMARIA is a organic acid moiety. It  is  a organic  acid.  A  paradigm  shift. 
The Indian invention is  known  as  OMARIA  [  Orissa Malaria Research Indigenous  Attempt ] .
The Cholorquine and the Artemisinin are alkaloids and as such are toxic to the human body. But both have become ineffective against drug resistant malaria that is rampant in India and in Orissa particularly ( Kpt ).
OMARIA is made from Organic acids which are very much compatible to human body.
It is made from the fruit called Dalimba in Oriya lingua ( Punica Granatum ).
 

Village Gunthaguda
one of the villages adopted. 
OMARIA  is  being used  by  a  rural  society  of  the Indian Red Cross  Society - IRCS... since 1998.
It is  dispensed  through  the  Govt.  administrative mechanism, who use  Govt. herbal  doctor(s).
 
The IRCS has been using OMARIA  in  Koraput , which is considered among the  most severe endemic and  drug  resistant pf  zone  of  India.... where  incidence  rate  is  very  high  and  continuous  throughout  the  year.
 
We  have  been using OMARIA  to  combat Pf  and  Pv  infestation  very  successfully  in  infants , children , pregnant & lactating mothers  and  in adults. OMARIA  has  so  far  not  indicated  any side  effects  or  contradiction. The malarial parasites have so far also not indicated development of any resistance against OMARIA.
 
The  therapeutic  programme ( use ) has been  on since  1998.  There  is  virtually no failure among the ethnic group.
 
A  whole  village  Comprehensive  Prevention Programme  has  also  been  lunched  by the IRCS . Four  villages  have  been  put  under  this  prevention  programme ( since 2003 ) using  only  (   new invention ) OMARIA herbal  capsule .  Review shows malarial infection  in these  4 villages  has  reduced  drastically.
 
These  villages  ( as  alike others around it )  had  drug resistant tertian  type.  It  was  noted  that  among the complaint ( in these adopted villages ) manifestation of tertian  fever  has  waned to almost NIL levels. 
Tertian  fever cycles ( pali jwara ) responds  to  the  therapeutic  course.
   
It  is  also  mildly  anti-diarrheal  and  mildly  hematinic. [ This means OMARIA does not have any of the adverse effects as are noted with Chloroquine group or Artemisinin group ] .