IN three years, Jamaica has pumped about $19 million into product research to kickstart a nutraceutical industry here, the success of which will tell in the level of interest by local businesses to commercialise the new creations.

The Scientific Research Council believes it is doing exciting things, having so far developed breakfast cereal from local ginger, shampoos and conditioners from sorrel seeds and rosemary, respectively, an anti-wrinkle cream and insect repellent also made from rosemary, and a body lotion made from tumeric.

“We are encouraged and are pretty excited by the developments,” says Sheridan Hibbert, one of a team of research scientists working on the products.

“We have a lot of potential here and we could generate a lot of money in the country from nutraceutical products. These are, after all, value-added products instead of the traditional dry herbs.”

The SRC is financing its work under a 2003 programme partially grant-funted by the Organization of American States.

Having developed the products, what remains is for the SRC scientists to complete the research establishing that the product produces the desired effect and without side effects that could be harmful to consumers.

After that, it will be all systems go for commercialisation.

“Having come up with the prototypes, we will try to engage local producers for the commercialisation of the products,” said one SRC representative who asked for anonymity.

It was not immediately clear how much financing is required to conduct the efficacy and toxicology studies, but the SRC plans to do that aspect of the research in partnership with the Pharmacology Department of the University of the West Indies, Mona campus.

The two institutions have a history of research collaboration.

There has long been talk of developing a nutraceutical industry in Jamaica, which is rich in herbs that folklore claims hold a host of cures for almost any ailment.

Ginger is reputed to be good for lowering cholesterol and treating inflammation while rosemary is said to be good for the hair.

Tumeric is known for its usefulness in treating stomach problems.

Jamaica pressed ahead with plans for a nutraceutical sector in earnest in 2004, with the Planning Institute of Jamaica taking the lead role – bringing the SRC and UWI together.

Globally, the United States and Europe are leaps ahead in product development and market dominance, earning billions from the industry. But Jamaica is undaunted and is concentrating its research on plants easily accessible here.

The island has more than 300 plant species recognised as medicinal.

Crude extracts from 80 of the plant species studied have been found to have an effect on living tissue, with bio-activity found in 23 per cent of those endemic to the island.

“We have been sensitising persons out there about what we have been doing and working with farmers to get them educated on the conditions required for growing particular plants,” Hibbert said.

“We have also been talking to persons in the herbal industry and sensitising them about the nutraceutical industry.”

The Jamaican Herbal Business Association, which constitutes the local chapter of the Caribbean Herbal Business Association, was also formed to marshall local private sector interest in nutraceuticals as a business.

williamsp@jamaicaobserver.com