Release issued 31st January 2002

Recent research by MolecularNature Limited (MNL), based in Aberystwyth, Wales, has identified previously unknown compounds from the medicinal herb Echinacea, which it believes could be related to the proven immune stimulatory activity of the plant.

With sales of Echinacea reaching $200m in the US alone, researchers have been keen to identify the true source of its medicinal properties. Hundreds of scientific studies have documented the chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications of Echinacea, yet none has yet satisfactorily identified the herb's bio-active components. According to Professor Nash, Research Director of MNL, his group has made a breakthrough because of its unique system for compound discovery, called Phytoquestä. 'Our system gives a detailed profile of the chemical components of the plant and is unusual in giving a very broad profile from highly water soluble chemicals to components insoluble in water. We believe that it is these newly discovered water-soluble compounds of Echinacea that may well be instrumental in giving Echinacea its powerful immune stimulation effect. Researchers have largely missed these compounds in the past as they are very difficult to detect and identify. It stands to reason that the effective compounds may well be soluble in water as traditionally the plant was used in teas and infusions.' MNL now plans to validate the activity of the new compounds through an alliance with the Pharmaceutical industry. The company believes that the compounds they have identified are potential candidates for curative drugs, preventative medicines, or high quality supplements. In addition to its effect on the immune system, tens of thousands of consumers are confident in Echinacea's ability to fight infections. Yet in the absence of a precise explanation of Echinacea's remarkable activity, it has been impossible for companies supplying supplements to guarantee the active content of the product. MNL started its research by performing detailed chemical fingerprinting of products currently on the market and can show that the chemical content of Echinacea products are quite different - despite coming from the same plant. The different makeup of products on the market depends on many variables - time of harvest, the precise part of the plant that is used and processing methods - to name a few. Nash concludes, "the detailed analysis we have carried out is the perfect vehicle for setting up a rigorous Quality Control system." The multi- million herbal supplements market should watch this space.

Background - Echinacea US sales of herbal dietary supplements are reported to be circa $4Bn in 1999. The most consistently proven effect of Echinacea is in stimulating phagocytosis, that is encouraging white blood cells and lymphocytes to attack invading organisms. Echinacea is reported to increase the number and activity of immune system cells, including anti- tumour cells. MolecularNature MolecularNature Limited (MNL) is a Phytochemical compound discovery company concentrating on discovering novel compounds from temperate plants that have a known therapeutic activity.

MNL was formed in June 1999 as a spin out from the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) in Aberystwyth. It resulted from collaboration with Xenova Discovery Ltd, a UK pharmaceutical company. MNL has laboratories in Wales and a commercial office in Maidenhead.

MNL has had considerable success in isolating novel compounds from well-studied plants. MNL targets herbs that are well documented but where the activity of the herb has not been satisfactorily explained. MNL uses its Phytoquestä platform to identify and isolate novel compounds of a wide range of classes. MNL has specific technology and expertise in the identification and isolation of water-soluble chemicals and therefore is better placed than other companies to isolate a full range of bio-active components.

Contacts:

Professor Robert Nash; Research Director; Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, UK

Hadyn Parry; Chief Executive Officer; 12 Craufurd Rise, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom

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