Agriculture and Fisheries Parliamentary Secretary, Francis Agius yesterday visited the Institute of Cellular Pharmacology.
Addressing the press, Dr Agius said this organisation started its operations in Malta in 1994 with the assistance of what was formerly the National Aquaculture Centre which formed part of the Ministry of Productive Development.
The Institute of Cellular Pharmacology (ICP) was set up in 1998 by Gilles Gutierrez and Charles Saliba. The institute researches and develops commercial uses and applications of terrestrial plants as well as marine algae.
Its principal activity is to collect species from all over the world so as to try and determine whether there are any biologically active principles in these materials that could be of benefit to mankind and livestock.
The institute is based at Technopark in Mosta. At this facility there are a number of laboratories specialising in aquatic biology where research on the culture and scale up of algae culture can be carried out, using a controlled aquatic environment.
Research has been carried out for leading cosmetic companies using algae as a raw material in their products. Studies on aquatic organisms such as fish and crustaceans can also be carried out. It also houses a fully equipped analytical laboratory and cell biology laboratory.
Dr Agius stressed that ICP works very closely with a number of leading Universities including the University of Malta. To date, it has sponsored more than 10 theses at all levels up to Ph.D. It has also carried out a number of clinical studies in medical school at the University of Malta and has published extensively in scientific conferences. Dr Agius said it is a good investment for students within our University and can also attract foreign students.
Most of the material used for research as well as commercial activities is cultivated and processed by local farmers and divers. Hundreds of farmers provide this institute with prickly pear fruit from around Malta and Gozo while local divers work extensively to ensure that the supply of algae needed for this process is available in the form demanded by such industries.
Dr Agius explained that the principal area of commercial activity is in the neutraceutical area (where foods are ingested for their nutritional value in terms of biological activity), the cosmetic area and animal nutrition. To date, there are a number of plants and algae derived products in the research and development stage – two products are in full-scale production and commercial stage.
One product based on the macro alga called Padina pavonica or Il-Hassa l-Bajda or Peacocks Tail has been shown to help induce calcium uptake and fixation. Clinical studies have been carried out in conjunction with the University of Malta to demonstrate its effects. This product is recognised as a food and being sold as such in a number of European countries as an aid for calcium uptake.
A number of cosmetic products have been developed from the extract of this alga and today, millions of jars of cosmetics based on the active principle derived from this alga are sold every month all around the world.
The extract from this alga is also being used in the culture of finfish such as sea bream and shrimps as well as chickens.
The institute also developed a product based on the extract of the prickly pear fruit. This fruit contains a substance that allows the organism cope with physical and physiological stress. It helps the body’s own defence mechanism cope with episodes of stress.
Again this product is being used as a human neutraceutical, as a cosmetic product as well as a product in the aquaculture and the poultry industry. Last year, the United States published a paper containing research that had been carried out demonstrating the product’s effect in the prevention of hangover. This study made the headlines in several countries all over the world – 12,500 articles were published in leading journals and newspapers.
The institute will launch a third commercial product next year based on an extract derived from pomegranates.
(From Malta Indipendent online)