Researcher proves herbal oils can treat infections
Zinnat Shahina was lucky enough to avoid the chickenpox.
But growing up in Bangladesh, she saw her siblings suffer the virus’ itching. Her mother used neem leaves, an herbal remedy, to calm their skin.
Now Shahina, a PhD student in the University of Regina department of chemistry and biochemistry, is looking to herbs to treat other ailments.
Shahina presented her work on essential oils as alternative fungicides for candida infection at the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region research showcase on Wednesday.
“What I’m doing is showing them this is working, you can use it,” said Shahina.
Candida, commonly known as a fungal or yeast infection, is becoming increasingly resistant to antifungal drugs, which is why finding a new treatment is important.
Working in a lab at the U of R, Shahina is comparing and combining four kinds of essential oils — cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, clove and rosemary — against a variety of candida strains, which she received from microbiologist Dr. Jessica Minion and the Regina General Hospital.
Shahina found that essential oils can stop fungal growth and even kill fungus.
“We have something alternative, let’s take it and use it,” she said. “This is the hope.”
In future research, she hopes to see how leaves from the neem tree and holy basil stack up against candida, which can commonly present as oral thrush or vaginal infections. But for immunosuppressed people, the infections are worse, becoming blood or respiratory infections or meningitis.
“If your antibiotic is not working, that will be spreading through the whole body and the patient becomes more vulnerable to this,” said Shahina.
Shanina’s was one of nearly 40 projects presented at the showcase, which ranged from nutrition to specific illnesses to neonatal care to health care staff experiences. They represent a small portion of research that’s going on within the health region.
More than 328 studies are currently underway involving RQHR staff or resources; 270 are being driven from inside the health region, said Elan Paluck, RQHR director of research.
“Most of our research is coming from doctors, nurses, pharmacists, so they’re busy caring for patients and the research staff are helping them to operationalize their ideas,” said Paluck. “For all of them, it’s because they have a belief in making things better.”
About 80 per cent of RQHR research falls under quality and safety.
New to the health region, Paluck said researchers are involving patients and families in setting research priorities.
Paluck couldn’t say how the amalgamation of Saskatchewan’s 12 health regions might affect the research showcase.
“This is our 11th annual; it could be our last,” said Paluck. “What the structure looks like in the new provincial health authority has yet to be revealed, but we do believe that regardless of how that structure is, there’s going to be a need to have an integration of research staff with clinicians making sure that the ideas are being developed and studied.”