Ooni Of Ife Unveils NAFDAC Approved Herbal Cure For COVID-19

The fear of the COVID-19 virus in Nigerians was again allayed on Thursday as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, unveiled an indigenous drug for the cure and prevention of the viral infection.

The drug named Verozil, which is available in capsules, blisters packs and liquid, was certified by the body regulating sales and use of drugs in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Verozil, which was launched alongside other three indigenous drugs, was researched and produced by Yem-Kem International Group and Ooni Ojaja Global Outreach. It will be distributed by Organic Remedies.

Oba Adeyeye, who spoke at the launch at the banquet hall, Ooni’s palace, Ile-Ife, said it was a great day and privilege to unveil the indigenous medicines, noting that their potencies have been tested and proven by government and other bodies.

His words: “Today is a great day for in the history of this great nation. I give kudos to the Minister of Health, NAFDAC DG and the Presidency for the success of these products.

 “I want to announce to the whole world that there is a new phase in traditional medicine research that will be berth soon with the introduction of an Executive Bill, which is at the second reading at the National Assembly, on herbal product research. We are also launching bitter leaf, a very powerful product and now it is in gelatin form to be consumed easily by people and it was produced in Nigeria.

“As the world is celebrating their COVID-19 vaccine, we are here to unveil and celebrate our own indigenous medicine.”

Prominent herbal medicine practitioner and founder and Chief Executive Officer, Yem-Kem International Nigeria Limited, Akintunde Ayeni, said the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi phoned him during the COVID-19 and inquired from him what he was doing in respect of the deadly virus.

He said Oba Adeyeye sent him some recipes that they could use in making indigenous medicine to fight COVID-19, which he studied and gave birth to the medicines that were been launched.

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Job Creation and Youth Employment in the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria, Afolabi Imoukhuede, in his goodwill messages, said COVID-19 has brought to the fore the importance of immunity.

  

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Excessive Sugarcane Consumption May Lead To Poor Sperm Quality In Men

EATING sugarcane might taste yummy to those with a sweet tooth, but its excessive intake can add unwanted inches to waistlines. In a new study, researchers say that excessive intake of sugarcane may also lower semen quality.

 

The researchers found that sugarcane juice can adversely alter a man’s functions by reducing sperm quality and disrupting testicular architecture. According to them, it caused an increase in the percentage of abnormal sperm and decreased sperm viability.

 

Infertility is a problem across almost all cultures and societies. Problems in the male partner, especially as a result of unhealthy dietary habits, are the commonest single group of causes. Many populations, therefore, tend more toward the use of natural dietary substitutes opined to proffer less risk to reproductive functions and more health benefits.

 

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) has been widely known as a raw material for white sugar, cane syrup, molasses, wax, and rum production. Raw sugarcane stalks can be chewed as a snack. Because the stalks are fibrous, they are not eaten per se but merely chewed to extract the juice.

 

Chewing of sugarcane or consuming sugarcane water or syrup can help treat urinary tract issues and provide a boost of antioxidants, along with providing benefits to pregnant women and diabetic patients. In India, the plant, as well as its juices, are used for abdominal tumours.

 

In the study, the researchers evaluated the reproductive effects of sugarcane juice in male Wistar rats. A sugarcane press juicer was used to extract sugarcane juice. Twenty male Wistar rats, grouped into four, received 1.0 mL/kg/day distilled water (control), and 1.0, 3.2 and 10.0 mL/kg/day of fresh sugarcane juice once daily for eight weeks.

 

The 2020 study, in the Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology involved Eunice Ogunwole Olufadekemi T;  Kunle-Alabi Opeyemi O and Akindele Yinusa Raji from the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and Bingham University, New Karu, Nasarawa.

 

The researchers thereafter had their sperm, testes and epididymis (the long, coiled tube that stores sperm and transports it from the testes) assessed under the microscope, as well as determine the levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone in their blood.

 

They reported that the 10.0 mL/kg juice caused a significant increase in testosterone level and sperm count, and it also increased the percentage of aberrant sperm aswell as decreased sperm viability. Sugarcane juice impaired the histological integrity of the testes and epididymides.

 

Previously, these researchers had compared the reproductive effect of cane sugar and molasses, also a byproduct from sugar processing, in male rats, saying that molasses possibly contain compounds with potential ability to disrupt sperm production and reduce sperm quality.

 

In fact, the result of the 2020 study published in the journal, Toxicology Reports indicated that molasses-treated rats showed more aberrations in the seminiferous tubules and epididymis relative to sugar-treated rats.

 

Molasses is gaining popularity as a substitute for refined sugar. The researchers had wanted a safer alternative to refined sugar that is widely reported to block the effect of androgens, the group of sex hormones that give men their ‘male’ characteristics. The major sex hormone in men is testosterone, which is produced mainly in the testes testosterone.

 

No one knows why sperm counts are falling precipitously. Some say sperm are vanishing due to men resting laptops on their laps. Others blame the heat generated from cell phones sitting in pants pockets. But others say the drop is likely due to a variety of factors, including diet.

 

Accordingly, several studies suggest that sperm is influenced by diet, and the effects arise rapidly. For instance, researchers at Linköping University said diet influences the motility of the sperm and this effect may even be noticeable after one to two weeks of a wrong diet.

 

In the study published in the journal PLOS Biology, the scientists examined the sperm quality and other indicators of the health of 15 normal, non-smoking young men, who followed a diet in which they were given all food from the scientists for two weeks. During the second week, the researchers added sugar, corresponding to around 3.5 litres of fizzy drinks, or 450 grammes of confectionery, every day.

 

Perhaps more importantly, a recent study found men consuming at least one soft drink per day had a 33 per cent lower average monthly probability of conceiving successfully with their partner. Women were found to have a 25 per cent lower chance. For both men and women together, soft drink intake was associated with a 20 per cent reduction. 

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Why Regular Consumption Of Zobo With Hypertension Drugs Should Be Avoided - Experts

The consumption of hibiscus tea or zobo is growing in popularity owing to accumulating evidence that it has benefits against excess weight, constipation, upset stomach, diabetes and can safely reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, two major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

 

Among the best-described health benefits of Hibiscus sabdariffa, also commonly referred to as roselle, is blood pressure control for hypertension and many patients on conventional antihypertensives may also consume iced zobo drink to beat the increasing atmospheric temperature.

 

Studies have shown that a two-week period of zobo extract administration could produce the antihypertensive activity. However, in a new study, experts warn against long term consumption of zobo drink by individuals on captopril, a conventional hypertension medication.

 

According to them, regular intake of zobo drink with captopril, one of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor may be potentially dangerous. This could lead to a lowering of the blood pressure than initially planned.

 

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as captopril dilate the blood vessels to lower hypertension or treat heart failure.

 

Even though the intake of the antihypertensive with zobo drink does not influence the antihypertensive potency of captopril or cause any side effects, they said two weeks of regular intake of zobo drink with captopril can reduce the efficacy of the drug.  This was contained in the 2020 edition of Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

 

Ingestion of zobo drink with conventional medicines such as paracetamol, chloroquine and antibiotics in many communities are very common, without regard to the possibility of herb-drug interactions. Being natural products, individuals wrongly believe they are always safe to be taken with drugs.

 

When herbal therapies and drugs (prescription or non-prescription medications) are used together, they can interact in the body, causing changes in the way the herbs and/or the drugs work. Such changes are called herb-drug interactions. They can be beneficial or harmful, depending on the type of interaction.

 

More than 300 species of hibiscus can be found around the world and most of its varieties are used as ornamentals. However, there are two main types of Hibiscus sabdariffa cultivated for its jute-like fibre and its edible calyces. Its infusion made from its bright red calyces, which is commonly called zobo, is consumed hot or cold. This tea is often sweetened with sugar.

 

For the study on the possible effect of prolonged administration of zobo extract on captopril in the body, male rats were divided into two groups of six. The first group received a single dose of captopril suspension while the second group received zobo daily for two weeks prior to the same captopril dose.

 

Multiple blood samples were collected at predetermined times after the antihypertensive was administration and its concentration in these blood samples were assessed using ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

 

Previously, experts at the Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said taking zobo along with the prescription drug lisinopril, a blood pressure medication, ensures its better effectiveness in blood pressure control.

 

The availability of lisinopril alone and in the presence of Hibiscus tea was determined at the stomach, intestine and blood pH.

 

The 2019 study, which involved I. Nasir, M. Aminu, A.M. Ismail, A Salisu and G Magaji, published in the Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, found that taking lisinopril with zobo drink or hibiscus tea could enhance its availability consequent to the increased dissolution of lisinopril in simulated gastric, intestinal and blood pH.

 

Dr I. Nasir declared: “It is a common practice to see individuals taking a prescription drug for antihypertensive medications outside the hospital while also taking zobo drink and moringa. They believe that when they take it together, they get better. And when you check their blood pressure, it would have dropped miraculously.”

 

He added “the result of the study has proven that the zobo drink helps in checking their high blood pressure.”

 

According to him, “its pharmacological effect will definitely be seen. In fact, there is a banker; all that she takes in the morning for her hypertension is the sour zobo drink which contains no additive like sugar.

 

“Many studies have shown that zobo drink has some antihypertensive effect. In fact, some prescribers recommend that instead of using water to swallow the drug, they could use a zobo drink. But they advise not to take zobo drink that contains sugar.”

 

The researchers, however, said further studies on the effect of varying concentrations of zobo on the bioavailability of lisinopril would still need to be evaluated.

 

However, people taking blood pressure medications like the Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as lisinopril should avoid consuming large amounts of zobo as well as foods high in potassium including avocados, oranges and orange juice, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes and tomato source.   

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