Investigating the use of daffodil extracts to treat heart failure

There is emerging evidence that some of the alkaloids present in daffodils could be used to treat heart failure. This long term complication of cardiovascular disorders is characterised by thickening (hypertrophy) and stiffening (fibrosis) of the walls of the heart, leading to reduced cardiac function and increased morbidity. The chemicals found in daffodils may target cellular events in the heart (cardiomyocyte) to interrupt these structural changes and have the potential for development as novel therapeutics to prevent heart failure.

Challenge

Agroceutical Products extract galanthamine from daffodil bulbs for use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Other alkaloids are present in the bulbs, but are currently discarded during the galanthamine isolation process.

This project involved screening a number of these alkaloids in cell-based models designed to mimic the different stimuli for cardiac hypertrophy, to determine their potential as anti-hypertrophic/anti-fibrotic molecules, and measuring multiple cellular signalling pathways to gain insight into cellular mechanism of action.

Solution

IBioIC and High Value Biorenewables co-funded Agroceutical Products Ltd and Robert Gordon University to develop a new process to extract alkaloids from daffodil biomass concentrate and undertake tests to determine the efficacy of the extracts.

Agroceutical Products worked on the optimisation of a scalable method to isolate alkaloids from the starting biomass.

Outcome

Of the alkaloids screened, one of them was shown to have a positive effect on some of the cellular events that contribute to the development of cardiac fibrosis.

The proof of concept data will now allow the academic team to apply for further research funding.

Agroceutical Products will be able to apply for investment to take this process forward at scale in Scotland in collaboration with Grampian Growers, a large producer of daffodils. The presence of another active pharmaceutical helps to generate further revenue for farmers and diversifies their portfolio, reducing financial risk.