AFTER 28 years of dedicated research on guinea hen weed (petiveria alliacea) — one of Jamaica’s indigenous plants — adjunct professor in the College of Health Sciences, University of Technology, Jamaica Dr Lawrence Williams and co-researcher Dr George Levy (USA) have landed a patent with the United States for the discovery of anti-cancer activity of the plant.

In a release yesterday, UTech, Jamaica said the invention involves the isolation of the active ingredient dibenzyl trisulphide (DTS).

DTS is classified as a polysulphide mitogen with a wide spectrum of activity including anti-proliferation and or anti-cytotoxic effect on human cancer cell lines, UTech Jamaica said.

DTS also acts to stimulate the production of stem cells from bone marrow and thymus with very little toxic effects.

Dr Williams joined the College of Health Sciences in 2016 and has been involved in plant-based research at both the graduate and undergraduates levels, the release stated.

He obtained his PhD from the University of the West Indies which was followed by post-doctoral studies at the University of Hohenheim, Institute for Chemistry, Stuttgart, Germany. According to UTech, Dr Williams is an accomplished researcher with more than 70 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on plant-based medicine.

UTech said his extensive research profile has resulted in him receiving numerous awards and fellowships, including the 2013 Honoured Member for Research, Continental Who’s Who, USA; 2011 Silver Musgrave Medal for Outstanding Merit in the Field of Science (Scientific Research) from the Institute of Jamaica; and induction into the International Biographical Centre (IBC), Hall of Fame, Cambridge, UK (2004).

The university said Dr Williams’ current work at the educational institution also includes the supervision of a post-graduate research project on anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin and canabidial and undergraduate research projects on insecticidal activity of neem extracts and malathiam and antibacterial activity of neem extracts.