Madagascar herb can’t cure COVID-19

The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) has shared its result from evaluation and analysis of Madagascar’s herbal drink ‘COVID Organics’.

In a statement released on Sunday July 19, the NIPRD said that the drug which contains majorly Artemisia annua cannot effectively cure Coronavirus as claimed. It however reduces frequency of cough with maximum dose, producing an effect equivalent to that produced by the centrally acting cough-suppressant, dihydrocodeine.

The institute further disclosed that it would further investigate the drug’s effect on tracheal mucus expectoration.

It read;

“Safety studies show that COVID ORGANICS (CVO) products do not alter the normal physiology of the animals.

“CVO caused a significant decrease in the platelet counts although the values are within the physiological range for Wistar rats.

“The increase in alkaline phosphatase observed in the CVO female group may indicate a cause of concern although the values are within the physiological ranges for Wistar rats and this was not observed in the organs.

“On the whole CVO can be considered safe based on the model used which did not cover other routes of administration, effects of long-term use, or organ histological evaluation of the test systems.

“CVO reduced cough frequency with the maximum dose tested producing an effect equivalent to that produced by the centrally acting cough-suppressant, dihydrocodeine.

“To further characterise this product based on its effect on the respiratory tract, it will be important to investigate its effect on tracheal mucus expectoration.

“While CVO dose-dependently reduced general febrile response, the effect was not sustained and was less than for indomethacin.”

Director-General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe added;

“Well, I cannot tell you what they have done. I can only tell you what we have done here.

”The analysis we gave in our report is more detail than anything that had come from their country.

“They are hiding the analysis of their own product. If you go online, you cannot get the level of analysis that we gave.

“They are hiding a lot of things and I think it is possible that they know that they don’t have strong science backing up their claim. But our own analysis does not show any proof that it can cure COVID-19.”