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Tobacco for making drugs!

Ch. Prashanth Reddy

GUNTUR, Sept.5

CONSUMPTION of tobacco may sound death knell to many. However, for the scientists of the Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI) of Rajahmundry, the much-maligned golden leaf can as well offer some health-related benefits to the society.

According to the CTRI scientists, Mr S.R. Prabhu and Mr C.V. Narasimha Rao, the advent of bio-technology has opened new vistas for utilisation of tobacco. Today, through bio-engineering, various food proteins, desirable enzymes, flavours and pharmaceutic al products can be produced from tobacco.

The new products that could be produced include high dietary supplements, industrial enzymes, preservatives, steroids, anti-carcinogens, dyes, flavours and insecticides. The collaborative programme between CTRI and the Central Drug Research Institute of Lucknow has established the possibility of synthesising new bio-active compounds from tobacco which could lead to new drug development.

In a paper presented at a seminar on `Export promotion strategies for tobacco', organised by the Tobacco Board here, the CTRI scientists pointed out that tobacco had a wide spectrum of chemical compounds which could be broadly classified as alkaloids, ni trogenous constituents, acids, phenols, lipids and inorganic substances.

Among these, nicotine, an alkaloid, solanesol, a type of alcohol and organic acids were identified as potential chemicals which could be converted into value-added products. Recent research was stated to have suggested that nicotine and nicotine-like com pounds could slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease and Tourette's Syndrome.

Similarly, they stated, solanesol was the starting material for many high-value bio-chemicals as vitamin-K analogues, vitamin-E and co-enzyme Q9. Solenesol and other poly propenyl alcohols were also useful in the preparation of anti-ulcer compounds. Co-e nzyme Q was useful in treatment of heart diseases.

Thus, the two scientists say, prospects of growing tobacco for alternative uses is encouraging. In fact, alternative uses of tobacco has been one of the priority areas of research for CTRI. It has already developed viable bench-scale technologies for the recovery of 40 per cent nicotine sulphate, 75 per cent pure solanesol and crude organic acid from tobacco waste.