Speaking during a
Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing, Ehanire said an analysis of
Madagascar’s ‘COVID Organics’ shows that the mixture contains largely
anti-malarial constituents.
The Minister added
that relevant agencies will further evaluate the herb to determine its
effectiveness in treating COVID-19.
Ehanire said;
“Preliminary results
of the analysis of the so-called Madagascar herbs by the National Institute for
Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) shows that it is the same as
the plant Artemisia anua, which is grown in the NIPRD farm.
“Further research on
its efficacy will be conducted when the grants for research are approved.
“The so-called
Madagascar herb is one component of the malaria treatment medicine.
“Some years ago, the
government imported this plant and has a plantation of it in trying to develop
its production of the artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT).
“The plantation is
still there, but the process has not gone that much further.
“We are looking into
seeing what has held it up, but the plant is here; it was intended for
producing anti-malarial, and the type we have here has a very high yield of
artemisinin, which is the active ingredient.
“The species we have
here have been tested and they have a very high concentration of artemisinin.
“To see whether it
works against the coronavirus disease is what further research will have to
bring.”
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