With its unique geography and climate, Western Australia is home to 8 of Australia's 15 biodiversity hotspots. For example, in WA's Lesueur National Park you can find more than 900 different species, comprising 10 per cent of all the State's known flora.
Biodiscovery provides opportunities for researchers and businesses all over the world to identify new compounds that can be used to make innovative new products.
Biodiscovery and WA biological resources
Native plants
Eremophila species are concentrated in arid Australia, including a notable diversity hotspot in the remote regions of WA. There are at least 229 different species of Eremophilias found across the State.
The plant is known to be used by Aboriginal people in traditional medicine and past chemical analysis identified compounds with therapeutic and commercial pharmaceutical potential including pain relief.
Venom
Poisons from animals, known as venoms have long been used to treat health conditions and pharmaceutical companies can use animal venom toxins to develop medicines.
For example the venom of Australia’s largest goanna, the Perentie, has been identified as a potential source of drug and disease treatments.
Microorganisms
The properties of microorganisms such as microalgae can be used to develop high value products. The Hutt Lagoon in WA’s Mid West region contains the world’s largest microalgae production plant, a series of artificial ponds used to farm Dunaliella salina.
These algae can be used in products such as cosmetics, dietary supplements and pigments. Microbes are also widely used in the pharmaceutical industry and most of today’s antibiotics are chemically modified versions of natural products.
Biodiscovery case studies
Nyardoo Mudjala
Show moreSharing traditional knowledge about the mudjala plant leads to identification of novel analgesic compounds.
The nyardoo mudjala mangrove tree holds cultural significance to the Nyikina Mangala people of the West Kimberley region of Western Australia. The mudjala tree is an integral part of the creation story of the Fitzroy River and is known and used for its pain relief and analgesic properties.
In 1986, Nyikina Mangala senior Elder and traditional knowledge holder Mr John Watson had his finger bitten by a crocodile while hunting in WA’s remote Kimberley region. Mr Watson used the bark of the mudjala to manage his pain until he reached medical assistance.
The Nyikina Mangala Elders later decided to explore options to commercialise their traditional knowledge of the mudjala which led to the negotiation of a research and development agreement between Queensland’s Griffith University and the Jarlmadangah Burru Aboriginal Corporation (Jarlmadangah Burru), representing the Nyikina Mangala Elders.
Following 10 years of scientific research, two classes of novel analgesic compounds were identified, one effective for inflammatory pain and diabetic neuropathy and a second which mitigates sciatic nerve injury. In 2008 Jarlmadangah Burru and Griffith University were certified as co-owners of the Indigenous biotechnology patent.
Researchers continue to work collaboratively with the Traditional Knowledge Custodians to develop and hopefully commercialise products using the mudjala bark’s properties, including a gel form of pain relief.
Senior Aboriginal knowledge holders John Watson and Annie Milgin are working with the research team as Indigenous Research Collaborators to guide the researcher’s engagement with traditional knowledge holders from Nyikina Mangala and a number of West Kimberley language groups as a key part of documenting the mudjala use and culture authorities relating to it.
The research partnership between the university and Mr Watson’s community in developing the product has been recently recognised by the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering, winning the inaugural Traditional Knowledge Innovation award in 2023.
Sources used:
- Australian Research Council Indigenous medicines project (2023) National spotlight on Aboriginal medicines research project, 26th October 2023, accessed 01 November 2023.
- Australian National University (ANU), ANU College of Asia and the Pacific (2023) National spotlight on Aboriginal medicines research project, accessed 01 November 2023.
- ABC Rural (2023) Indigenous medicine used to soothe a crocodile bite could gel in time to help Brisbane Olympics athletes - ABC News, accessed 03 November 2023.
- Marshall V, Janke T and Watson A (2013) ‘Community Economic Development in Patenting Traditional Knowledge: A Case Study of the Mudjala TK Project in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia’ IndigLawB 21; (2013) 8(6) Indigenous Law Bulletin page17.
Queensland spinifex grass
Show moreScientists and Traditional Knowledge Custodians working in partnership to develop new products.
Triodia pungens, a species of spinifex grass found in north-west Queensland, is known to thrive in Australia’s harshest conditions, surviving droughts and bush fires.
Camooweal’s Indjalandji-Dhidhanu people have being using the grass and its sticky resin for hundreds of years for a variety of purposes including waterproof roof hatching, bedding and to make adhesive gum for spears and tools. The oils and waxes have also been used in traditional medicines.
Through the use of nanotechnology researchers from the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, found the plant produces extremely, stretchy microscopic fibres with more tensile strength than steel.
The University and Indjalandji-Dhidhanu people are working collaboratively to develop commercial applications for the locally grown species of spinifex which has applications in the plastics and rubber industries. In 2023 the parties entered an agreement to establish Trioda Wilingi Pty Ltd, a spin off company that will develop and commercialise injectable medical gels which can be used to treat arthritis and osteoarthritis, help deliver drugs more efficiently to the body and in cosmetic procedures.
As part of the agreement, a percentage of all royalties will be paid to an Indigenous education fund at the University which provides training and education opportunities for Aboriginal people. The venture also provided job opportunities for Aboriginal people in the remote Camooweal where the spinifex grass is grown, harvested and processed to extract the resin for use in manufacturing.
Sources used:
- ORIC ( Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations) (2023) Weaving grass into gold ORIC website, accessed 3 November 2023.
- SmartCompany (24 February 2023) University of Queensland spin-out company to develop medical gels from spinifex grass using traditional Indigenous knowledge, accessed 3 November 2023.
- ABC North West Qld (8 March 2023) Medical gels made from spinifex grass to provide 'safer' treatments, jobs for Indigenous Australians - ABC News, accessed 1 November 2023.
