Scientists are working on developing a new botanical medication that could potentially treat peanut allergies.

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have developed a drug based on an herbal formula, that offers long-term protection after treatment for anaphylaxis caused by peanuts.

The findings, based on a mouse study, are published online in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Lead author Dr. Xiu-Min Li said the Food Allergy Herbal Formula (FAHF-2) was able to protect allergic mice from anaphylaxis for more than one-quarter of their lifespan. This protective period was equal to more than 36 weeks.

“There is an urgent need for effective therapies to prevent and treat those who suffer from food allergies and FAHF-2 could prove to be a major advancement in this field,” Li explained.

Peanut allergy is responsible for approximately 80 percent of anaphylaxis cases in the U.S., he added.

There are currently clinical trials involving humans being conducted at the university to determine whether the medication could work against a number of food allergies, including fish and shellfish.