A Deputy Director of Research from the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Oluwagbeminga Aina, has revealed that many medications and plants related to herbs in the Nigerian markets are only safe for use, but they are not effective in treating the medical conditions that their producers claimed.
He affirmed that for evidence based research work that he covered more than six years in no less than 46 medications, plants and herbal supplements in the country, the results showed that most of them failed effective evidence.
AINA, a biochemistry-nutritionist and associate professor of pharmacology at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences of Eko, Lagos, gave this revelation in a recent monthly dialogue organized by the Institute with the media.
“We carry out research on 46 medications and medications related to Herbal, as well as supplements in the markets, and we discover that none of them passed the effectiveness test.
“Those are some of the herbal medications and supplements in the market that their producers claimed to be effective to cure all kinds of medical conditions, including chronic types, while they are only safe but not effective,” he said, noting that the tests were performed on animals.
By identifying numerous challenges faced by researchers that include the lack of funds, the inappropriate laboratory equipment and the high cost of evidence, the scarcity of qualified labor and the standard animal housing facilities, among others, the researcher stressed the importance of herbal medicine producers who do more work on the preparation of their products before taking them to the market.
He said they could do this by submitting their products for security and powerful evidence in any of the country’s standard laboratories to protect consumers.
According to him, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that traditional medications and herbal related should be tested before making the public available.
But many of them in the market currently did not undergo toxicity evaluations to guarantee their safety, which is the main concern for patients, health authorities and the public.
“Therefore, it now becomes important for those whose products are already in the market to do more work when discovering the active ingredient in the preparation of their products and how it can be used to effectively treat the condition they are going to,” Aina emphasized.
AINA, whose current research areas include malaria chemotherapy in humans and the detection of suspicious medicinal plants that have antipalúdico properties, also advised people on their part to always be careful for medications and herbal supplements they take, especially when their effectiveness is not guaranteed.
Also read the main stories of Nigerian Tribune
Watch the best Nigerian Tribune TV videos