Beitrag vom 13.05.2020

The World

Madagascar defends coronavirus herbal remedy

By Halima Gikandi

In the face of mounting criticism, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina continues to champion COVID Organics, an herbal remedy produced by Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (IMRA) last month.

“COVID Organics, needless to say, is a preventative and curative remedy against COVID-19. It works very well,” Rajoelina said during an interview with French media on Monday.

The herbal drink, developed by local scientists, comes from traditional medicinal plants, including Artemisia arrua, which is native to China, the president said.

“It’s a very popular herbal medicine. It’s one of the most frequently used herbs in parts of the world,” said professor Chrisna Gouws, a biochemist researching traditional medicine at North-West University in South Africa. “The scientific community became interested because it contains artemisinin, which is a recognized anti-malarial treatment.”

Traditional medicine continues to be widely used across Africa. According to President Rajoelina, 80% of the population of Madagascar uses it.

“It’s also very accessible and affordable,” especially for those living in rural areas with little access to health care systems, Gouws said.

African traditional healers aren’t alone in looking to local herbs for treating illnesses.

“There are quite a few prescribed Western medicines that have their source in African herbal remedies,” Gouws added, citing the chemotherapy drugs vinblastine and vincristine, which are derived from the Madagascar periwinkle plant.

Madagascar isn’t the only one interested in exploring the potential use of Artemisia arrua in fighting the coronavirus. Last month, the German Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces announced its partnership with an American company to test the plant’s extracts and derivatives against COVID-19.

Currently, however, there is no evidence that the plant is effective in preventing or treating the new coronavirus.

“We would caution and advise against countries adopting a product which has not been taken through tests to see its efficacy against COVID-19.”

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Africa