Multiple sclerosis breakthrough: Drug derived from traditional medicinal halts MS symptoms

MS symptoms include fatigue and blurred vision. Istock

A drug derived from a traditional medicinal plant could be effectively used to stop the progression of Multiple sclerosis (MS) and, when taken orally, has the potential to greatly improve patients' quality of life, claim researchers working at an Australian University.

Today, treatment options are still limited for people who suffer from this auto-immune disease. Most medicine needs to be administrated by parenteral application and are not 100% efficient.

The new drug is derived from plant called Oldenlandia affinis. The scientists, from the University of Queensland (Australia), have isolated from the plant cyclic peptides Kalata B1, which have been found in the past to have a therapeutic properties.

With in-vitro experiments, they confirmed the peptides silenced the proliferation of T-cells, a subtype of lymphocytes which play a central role in the evolution of MS. The next step was showing that it also worked on animals.

Blocking the symptoms

The latest research, published in PNAS, investigates the effects of the drug in-vivo, using a mouse model. The Kalata B1 based drug, which was labelled "T20K", was given orally to affected mice.

The scientists subsequently noted an improvement of the animal's normal clinical symptoms. Notably, no significant secondary effects were observed.

"The T20K peptides exhibit extraordinary stability and chemical features that are ideally what you want in an oral drug candidate", senior author Dr Christian Gruber points out. "This is a really exciting discovery because it may offer a whole new quality of life for people with this debilitating disease."

The success in animal models could pave the way for clinical trials. Dr Grueber believe they could happen as early as 2018.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects about 100 000 people in the UK. MS targets the brain and the spinal chord, and is generally first diagnosed in individuals in their 20's and 30's. Woman are two to three times more affected than men.

Symptoms include fatigue, blurred vision, bladder problems, numbness, muscle stiffness, problems with balance or working. There are different types of MS, with some people seeing their symptoms get gradually worse (primary progressive MS) or alternating between moments of good health and relapses (relapsing-remitting MS). MS is lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability, though in some cases it can be mild.

MS is an auto-immune disease, which means the problems stem from an abnormal immune process. In the case of MS, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath in the brain and the spinal chord. There are evidence that T-cells, which are targeted by the new drug, are activated against some components of central nervous system myelin. This causes the messages carried by the nerves to be slowed down or stopped, leading to the symptoms of MS.

However, what causes the immune system to attack the myelin sheath is still unclear. Experts believe it is linked to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as smoking, lack of vitamin D or infections by the Epstein-Barr virus.