Clinical Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Safety of Mist Amen Fevermix, a Ghanaian Bi-Herbal Product, Used in the Management of Uncomplicated Malaria

Abstract

Medicinal plants and products have been used all over the world throughout the history of mankind. Over time in some countries, they have been integrated into the public healthcare system but in the case of Ghana, integration is at the pilot stage. However, questions related to the effectiveness and safety of these medicinal plants and products have been raise and become the bone of contention between orthodox and traditional medicine practitioners. Malaria is a public health problem and continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in most tropical and subtropical countries. The influx of fake medicines and drug counterfeiting have led to malaria parasites becoming resistant to allopathic medicines and have led to an urgent need for new effective antimalarials from medicinal plants.  This research was to determine the effectiveness and safety of Mist Amen Fevermix which is a decoction of the stem bark of Morinda lucida and Parinari robusta at the Tafo Government Hospital, Kumasi after Committee on Human Research, Publication and Ethics approval.Clinically established malaria in male and female patients aged, 15-60 years were treated with Mist Amen Fevermix, at the specified dose of 45 mls (0.45 g) three times daily for six days. Parasitaemia clearance was 82.35% within the first three days in clients who responded positively to treatment. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean levels of malaria parasite load recorded at the first visit and those recorded at the second visit, t (34) =12.20, p=.000. Similarly, there was statistically significant difference between the malaria parasite load recorded on the second visit and that of the third visit, t (24) = 2.50, p=.022. This shows a significant effectiveness of Mist Amen Fevermix in the treatment of malaria. Kidney and liver function tests were within normal range at the end of the study as well as full blood count.The main findings of the study are that Mist Amen Fevermix produced by Amen Scientific Herbal Hospital, Kumasi is an effective and safe finished herbal antimalarial product when used as specified by the manufacturer.

Keywords: Malaria; effectiveness; herbal; integrated; antimalarial: parasitaemia.