Washington, DC — In what are called "significant clinical and laboratory results," by The Association for the Promotion of Traditional Medicine (Prometra), a three year study of 62 Aids infected patients suggests that Metrafaids, an indigenous herbal preparation made from five medicinal plants, may be a useful treatment option for African people living with HIV/Aids.
According to the NGO's President, Dr. Erick V. A. Gbodossou, lead researcher of the study, "their [the patients] viral loads deceased while at the same time their CD4 count went up."
CD4 cells help to organize the body to fight disease. Healthy adults and teenagers usually have a CD4 count of at least 800 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. If this number drops below 200 the risk of illness is severe. Viral loads tell doctors how much HIV is in the blood providing important clues as to how quickly HIVis doing harm. When a treatment reduces viral load the chances of getting an Aids-related infection, or dying of Aids, drops.
The viral loads of 70 percent of the patients decreased by more than 54 percent up to 94 percent. "The same percentage saw their CD4 count become normal, that is to say between 500 and 1100," Dr. Gbodossou told allAfrica.com.
"This study was overseen by an international scientific advisory committee. It is African, natural, without apparent side effects, accessible and affordable. It truly is an African solution to an African problem," said Gbodossou.
The study was conducted at the Center for Experimental Traditional Medicine in Fatick, Senegal, about 150 km from Dakar. "What makes this study different from the many 'so-called' traditional medicine therapies reported earlier, is that it was conducted meeting international scientific standards, and the results have been validated by international reference laboratories¨, Gbodossou said in a statement earlier this week.
LabCor, a diagnostic laboratory in New York did the blood analysis, picking up blood samples and returning the analysis by international courier. The study received US$2m in support from the Ford Foundation.
Metrafaids also reduced patient vulnerability to "opportunistic diseases", dermatosis, hepatitis B, hypertension, weight - alleviating clinical symptoms in 85% of the patients. No adverse reactions were documented throughout the study, which was conducted between 1999 and 2002. "The benefits of this traditional herbal medication are great, recognizing its efficacy, accessibility, low cost and non-existent side effects," said Professor Maurice Iwu, vice-chair of the scientific committee which reviewed the study.
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Iwu is the Executive Director of Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme, an international, non-profit organization that seeks to develop strategies for sustainable utilization of biological resources. He is also a Senior Research Associate at the Division of Experimental Therapeutics of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Gbodossou said that the plants used "can be found in any tropical region or any forested region - we find them in Africa, especially in West Africa. We find them easily."
Gbodossou said he wants to continue the study for another year "then after that we can go to the next step - to produce this medication, to manufacture a lot of this medication."
But just where any medication based on the study might be manufactured is still uncertain. The Association, which holds the patent on the drug, is seeking a partner. Manufacturing the drug is "easy" says Dr. Gbodossou."We can do it in tablet form or pill form. We dry the plant and make a powder. Our hope is to manufacture this in Africa - any country in Africa. And we want to make it accessible at a small price."
