Phase 2 · exploring
From a flower to a medicine
Many medicines started life in a plant. We want to find out whether one important medicine, galantamine, can be made in Thailand from a plant grown here. This is research we are exploring, not a fixed plan.
The medicine
Galantamine: an established medicine with plant roots
Galantamine was first found in snowdrop flowers. Today it is an established, widely used medicine in the treatment of Alzheimer’s-type memory loss, with an official quality standard in the pharmacopoeia. Much of the world’s supply still comes from plants, mostly daffodil-type flowers grown in cooler countries.
The plant
Hippeastrum papilio, the butterfly amaryllis
Hippeastrum papilio is a flowering plant, related to the amaryllis often grown in Thai gardens, with striking butterfly-like flowers. Scientific studies have reported galantamine in the plant, and it suits a warm climate. That is why it interests us.
Many questions remain open: how much galantamine the plant reliably contains, how to grow it at scale, and how to propagate good plants quickly. That is what our research is for.
Our plan, step by step
Research first, decisions later
Phase 1
A small research greenhouse
At our Phra Phutthabat site in Saraburi, to study growing, breeding and galantamine content.
If research succeeds
A decision on Phase 2
Only if the results justify it would we build a plant-extraction facility at our second Saraburi site in Kaeng Khoi.
Phase 2
Thai-made ingredient
The goal: the medicine’s key ingredient made in Thailand, to the same pharmacopoeia standard as existing supplies.
Also under consideration
Hyoscyamine
Hyoscyamine is another established plant-derived medicine, used for stomach and gut cramps, with its own pharmacopoeia standard. We are looking at whether it could fit alongside galantamine in Phase 2. Like everything on this page, it is under consideration and not scheduled.
Plant scientists and growers
If you work on Hippeastrum or medicinal plant cultivation and would like to share knowledge, we would be glad to hear from you.