| Category | Agriculture |
| Keywords | |
| Current development stage | General list: TRL3 Experimental proof of concept For Pharmaceutical development: TRL4 – POC & Safety of candidate drug formulation is demonstrated in defined animal model |
| Collaboration Opportunity | Sponsored Research with an option to License Research Results |
Background
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become an epidemic with prevalence reaching 24% of the adult USA population[1]. Limited options and poor adherence to current treatment emphasize the urgent need in establishing new therapies for treatment and/or preventing NAFLD. Bioactive natural compounds and medical herbs may be utilized as novel therapeutic agents for NAFLD.
Our Innovation
The researchers have developed an optimized extract from the leaves of a native Israeli plant for the treatment of NAFLD. There was a reduction in a variety of symptoms when the extract was added to the diet of mice suffering from NAFLD due to the consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD).
- Reduction in food intake
- Reduction in body weight as well as liver and adipose tissue weight
- Reduction in Total Cholesterol and HDL
- Reduction in AST and ALT – indicators of liver disease and damage
- Blood Insulin remained unchanged despite the HFD
Technology
Selected chemotypes with the most therapeutic activity are currently being developed for future large-scale cultivation. The estimated annual production of the concentrated extract is approximately 150 kilo per hectare at a cost of approximately $50,000.
Opportunity|
The collaborating research institutes are looking for partners to sponsor further research and development for both (1) formulation of dietary supplement for increased bioavailability and (2) further in vivo mice studies to characterize additional health benefits this Israeli plant can have on other diseases.
[1] https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/nafld-nash/definition-facts#:~:text=NAFLD%20is%20one%20of%20the,of%20U.S.%20adults%20have%20NASH
