Monday, October 6, 2025 - A six-year research effort by researchers at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, on Tuesday revealed that while the majority of herbal products circulating in Nigeria are safe for consumption, their effectiveness in treating diseases remains largely unproven.
Disclosing this during the monthly media briefing by the
Centre for Research in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine at
the institute, the Deputy Director of Research in the Department of
Biochemistry and Nutrition, Dr. Oluwagbemiga Olanrewaju Aina, emphasised that
the absence of verified therapeutic benefit in many herbal preparations poses a
major concern for public health.
“All the 46 herbal products evaluated over the last six
years were found to be safe in toxicity studies using animal models. However,
none of them passed efficacy tests,” Aina stated.
According to him, since 2019, the Centre has conducted
extensive acute and sub-acute toxicity studies on herbal products including
painkillers, anti-malarials, anti-COVID formulations, and remedies for cancer
and arthritis. Products such as Kampe Bitters, Divine Herbal Eye Medicine, and
Yusram Colon Cleanser were tested and deemed non-toxic at standard dosages.
Sub-acute studies were also conducted on high-profile
products including COVID Organics Herbal Tea from Madagascar and Vernonia
Antiviral Herb. These studies confirmed the absence of harmful effects over
repeated use in animals.
However, in preclinical and clinical efficacy studies,
products like Yoyo Bitters, Timalin, and Jemchi Herbal Remedies failed to
demonstrate reliable therapeutic effects against the conditions they claim to
treat, such as malaria, prostate cancer, and arthritis.
“Just because a product doesn’t harm you doesn’t mean it
works. There is a growing trend of herbalists making unverified claims, and in
some cases, adulterating their preparations with conventional drugs,” Aina, who
is also an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Eko University of Medicine
and Health Sciences, said.
He noted that the Centre was instrumental during the
COVID-19 pandemic, evaluating multiple herbal and pharmaceutical products for
safety and efficacy, including Virucidine, Ivermectin, and protein-based immune
therapies. Despite widespread public interest, none showed statistically
significant clinical benefits over standard treatment in trials conducted by
the Centre.
Aina urged herbal manufacturers to go beyond anecdotal
claims and subject their products to scientific scrutiny. He called for greater
investment in efficacy studies, improved access to laboratory equipment, and
the establishment of standardized animal housing for controlled research.
“We advise producers of herbal medicines to identify and
isolate active ingredients in their preparations. More importantly, they must
demonstrate that these ingredients work—not just that they don’t kill.”
He further cautioned the public against blind trust in
herbal remedies, saying, “People need to be mindful of what they consume. A
safe drug that doesn’t work is still a public health concern.”
On what the centre has achieved so far, he noted that over
the last six years, the Centre has evaluated 46 herbal medicinal products for
safety, conducted multiple preclinical and clinical efficacy studies, played a
key role in Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, trained over 500 industrial trainees,
150 project students, 50 interns, and 80 PhD students and collaborated with
universities in Nigeria and abroad.
He however, noted that challenges remain, including limited
funding, inadequate laboratory infrastructure, and the growing threat of
antimicrobial resistance, which Aina’s broader research also addresses.
Continuing, he said while traditional medicine remains a
vital part of African healthcare culture, there is need for science to validate
tradition, not replace it.
“Herbal therapy has its place—but it must be backed by
evidence. That is the only way forward.”
Noting that herbal medicine has continued to grow in Nigeria
and across Africa, the work of institutions like the Centre was vital in
bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and modern science to ensure
that the remedies are not only safe but also truly effective.
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