The researchers, who have been working on the project for the past 15 years, have established that lactoferrin, a protein present in the human, bovine, camel and goat milk exerts a protective effect on anti-inflammatory drugs.

Chronic administration of common anti-inflammatory drugs like nimuslide, paracetamol, aspirin, diclofenac and ibuprofen according to experts lead to gastric and intestinal injuries. “These drugs are most frequently prescribed but their chronic administration leads to damage of gastroduodenal mucosa resulting in gastric and intestinal injuries, which include peptic ulcers and formation of structures within small and large intestines,” said Prof. Tej P. Singh, a biotechnologist at the department of biophysics in AIIMS.

As of now, experts say there are no effective measures for this problem. “Hence there was a need to develop novel therapeutic agents which could prevent gastropathy by preventing the binding of anti-inflammatory drugs to mucosal membrane,” said Singh.

While, trials are on, experts say the new invention in form of a tablet will soon be available to the public. “Preliminary results have already indicated that ulceration will be prevented.”

“We have been working on the design of more potent anti-inflammatory agents which will be devoid of side effects. We have already developed new molecules with potencies greater than those of anti-inflammatory drugs by a factor of atleast 1000. On the other hand while carrying out extensive structural investigations on the colostrum protein lactoferrin we have shown structurally for the first time that anti-inflammatory drugs bind to lactoferrin with a moderate affinity,” added Singh.

The age-old practice of having medicine with milk, prompted the biotechnologists to work on this direction and it was found that lactoferrin produces inflammatory compounds that consist of enzymes such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2).

“These enzymes are targets of anti-inflammatory agents. When the anti inflammatory drugs are administered, they ought to bind to the target proteins PLA2 and COX-2 because of their high affinities to these proteins,” said an expert in the department.

The intestinal injuries are caused by the unbound non inflammatory drug molecule. According to recent studies, 30 per cent of the people taking these drugs complain of side effects and 50 per cent have full-grown erosions, which cause a lot of pain. However, the new compound is expected to help patients on anti-inflammatory pills as it is a natural product.