Here's how your toothpaste could help fight malaria

gloria mari

January 19, 2018 12:01 PM

Even malaria that is drug-resistant

An ingredient in toothpaste has been found to have strains resistant to malaria.

Scientists from the UK's Cambridge University used an artificially intelligent robot scientist to conduct high throughput screening through the toothpaste.

The component, known as triclosan has shown potential to interrupt malarial infections at two stages: the liver and blood.

Triclosan can stop the growth of the microorganism that causes malaria at the blood stage of infection. In toothpaste, it helps prevent the buildup of plaque.

According to the World Health Organisation, malaria causes 212 million infections and claims about 429, 000 lives per year worldwide. Sub-Saharan Africa has 90% of the infections and 92% of the deaths.

The disease is also gaining a notorious resistance to existing medicines.

The research was co-led by Biochemists Steve Oliver and Elizabeth Bilsland.

Ms Bilsland's team- with the help of the AI robot- uncovered that the ingredient inhibits the enzyme of the malaria even in the event that the malaria is resistant to antimalarials.

Source: Reuters.