A medical researcher at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Dr Aina Oluwagbemiga, has said that the institute was yet to see any herbal product that cures malaria in the country.
Aina, who is a Deputy Director of Research, at the Centre for Research in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Biochemistry and Nutrition Department at NIMR, said the herbal products so far seen can only suppress the parasite but did not cure it as chloroquine does.
The deputy director with over 25 years of experience in malaria research, said most of the herbal preparations for the treatment of malaria in the country with various claims by their manufacturers have no proof of efficacy.
He urged Nigerians to go for tests and be sure that they have malaria before going for treatment.
The researcher noted that NIMR had tested over 50 herbal products for the treatment of malaria in the last two years and none was able to prove the claims of their manufacturers that they cure malaria.
He urged Nigerians to treat malaria with standard and approved medication.
