Traditional Medicine Treatment for Aids Passes Clinical Tests

allAfrica.com

July 11, 2002
Posted to the web July 11, 2002

Charles Cobb Jr.
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.

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."

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