The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has paid out royalties to the Traditional Healers Committee - whose knowledge led to the discovery and commercialisation of a mosquito-repellent candle.

An amount of R22 800 was paid out to the African Traditional Healers Trust (created by Traditional Healers Committee), which entered into a benefit sharing agreement with the CSIR in 2003. This is a second payment of this nature following a recent payment of about R27 000 that was paid out to the same committee in October last year.

The past few years have seen the successful completion of the development of a novel natural method for repelling mosquitoes, including species that carry malaria. The repellent – contains the active ingredients of an indigenous plant, Lippia javanica, which is not found in any of the current commercial repellents on the market. The invention of this novel product resulted from the on-going collaboration between CSIR Biosciences and Traditional Health Practitioners, initiated in 1998.

Traditionally, the plant stems with its leaves are hung in rural dwellings to repel mosquitoes. CSIR’s phytochemical research – conducted over many growing seasons on plants from diverse ecosystems – led to the identification of chemotypes of the species with superior repellent properties. The volatile components of the plant were isolated and the chemical constituents identified. The efficacy of the active components was evaluated at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) using olfactometer tests. The results show that the CSIR-developed mosquito-repellent candle is significantly more efficient at repelling mosquitoes when compared to the current products on the market.

A benefit-sharing agreement with owners of the Indigenous knowledge that led to this research was signed on 11 February 2003. In terms of this agreement, the CSIR will pay benefits from the sale of the mosquito-repellent candles to the knowledge holders.

Dr Vinesh Maharaj – Technology Manager for Natural Products Technologies – said: “The payment of the second royalties to the knowledge holders continues to serve as milestones as there are not many cases in South Africa where royalties are paid to knowledge holders on sales of the final registered products. The success of the project demonstrates the value of bringing together three important pillars i.e. Biodiversity, indigenous knowledge and scientific innovation for the generation of benefits.”

The CSIR-developed technology for the production of the active ingredient and manufacturing of the candles has been transferred to communities. One such community-owned business with well-equipped infrastructure is the Hi Hanyile factory located in Giyani, Limpopo. The community business was established by the CSIR and funded by the Department of Science and Technology, where the plant is cultivated and processed into an essential oil, and formulated into candles on commercial scale.

Marthinus Horak, Manager: Essential Oils and Medicinal Plants at the Enterprise Creation for Development unit at CSIR, said that in addition to the payment of royalties to the Traditional Healers Committee, the successful commercialisation of the mosquito repellent also provides opportunity for the Giyani community to earn an income from the sale of the essential oil to Zollhaus as well as income from contract manufacture of the candles in their factory.

The product has been approved by the Registrar of Act no. 36 of 1947 and the CSIR has signed a licence agreement with Zollhaus International (Pty) Ltd for the manufacture, distribution and sale of the product to local and export markets.

The payment demonstrates the contribution of science and technology towards creating benefits for knowledge holders and the creation of new job opportunities.
ENDS