5 / 32
5
August - September 2017
| VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica
T
wenty eight years of dedicated
research on one of the endogenous
plants of Jamaica Petiveria alliacea
(guinea hen weed) has landed Adjunct
Professor in the College of Health Sciences,
Dr Lawrence Williams and co researcher Dr
George Levy (USA) a patent with the United
States for the discovery of anti-cancer
activity of the plant.
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. 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.
Dr. Williams obtained his PhD from the
University of the West Indies followed by
post-doctoral studies at the University
of Hohenheim, Institute for Chemistry,
Stuttgart, Germany. He is an accomplished
researcher with over 70 peer-reviewed
articles and book chapters on plant-based
medicine.
His extensive research profile had made
him the recipient of numerous awards and
fellowships including the 2013 Honored
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; Induction into the International
Biographical Centre (IBC), Hall of Fame,
Cambridge, UK (2004), among many other
awards.
Dr. LawrenceWilliams,Adjunct Professor, College of Health Sciences displays two of his Guinea HenWeed pharmaceutical
products retailed under the Timeless Herbal Care brand – the Guinea Hen Weed Tonic and Restorative and the Guinea
Hen Weed Magic Relief pain ointment. The occasion was a special briefing session at UTech, Jamaica’s Papine campus
on Thursday, January 12, 2017 to announce a Memorandum of Agreement signed between UTech, Jamaica and
Timeless Herbal Care Limited to support the development of the medicinal cannabis industry in Jamaica.
UTech, Jamaica Adjunct Professor Receives Patent for
Anti-Cancer Drug