LOCAL PLANTS MAY OFFER PROTECTION AGAINST HEPATITIS

Combination of local plants- Phyllanthus
amarus, avocado, and turmeric- may
provide the cheap novel solution to the
management of hepatitis B and C.
NO fewer than 20 million Nigerians are
reported to be living with hepatitis B and C
(inflammation of the liver), and over five
million are already chronically ill with liver
cirrhosis or cancer. The viral infections are
said to be 100 times more infectious than
Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS).
Conventionally the virus can only be
contained by vaccination, mass screening,
and treatment. But the government is not
forthcoming in performing these life saving
measures probably because of the huge
cost implication of screening over 100
million people and treating over 25 million
that are infected.
But natural remedies may provide a
cheaper route to prevention and treatment
of hepatitis B and C, and indeed liver
damage in the country. Top on the list are
Phyllanthus amarus, avocado, and turmeric.
Phyllanthus amarus belongs to the plant
family Euphorbiaceae. To the Efik it is called
oyomokeso amanke edem; geeron-
tsuntsaayee (birds millet) in Hausa; Ibo
(Asaba) buchi oro, Ibo (Umuahia) ngwu;
iyeke in Urhobo; and ehin olobe or eyin
olobe in Yoruba.
Botanically called Persea americana,
avocado is also commonly known as
avocado pear, alligator pear, or mountain
pear.
Turmeric is a spice that comes from the root
of Curcuma longa, a member of the ginger
family, Zingaberaceae. It is called atale pupa
in Yoruba; gangamau in Hausa; nwandumo
in Ebonyi; ohu boboch in Enugu (Nkanu
East); gigir in Tiv; magina in Kaduna; turi in
Niger State; onjonigho in Cross River (Meo
tribe).
Rev. Fr. Anslem Adodo of Pax Herbal Clinic,
Ewu in Esan Local Government of Edo State,
had said: “Bring one unripe pineapple fruit,
10 leaves of cashew plant, one handful of
cotton seed, 10 bottles of water to boil
together. Take one glassful four times daily
for 10 days
“Secondly, grind 20 pieces of bitter-kola
into fine powder, then mix with one bottle
of lime juice and one bottle of honey. Take
four dessertspoons four times daily for two
months.
“Thirdly, squeeze 40 bitter leaves into four
litres of water. Take one glassful thrice daily
for two months. (make fresh preparation as
needed).”
According to The Useful Plants of West
Tropical Africa by H.M. Burkill, Phyllanthus
amarus is a weed of cultivated land and in
waste spaces. It is said to have sand-
binding properties.
“It is a plant of general medicinal
application. In Yorubaland it features in an
incantation ‘against disease’. It is an
ingredient of the agbo prescription in
Lagos. An infusion of leaves is used in the
Ibadan area for haemorrhoids.”
A recent study published this year in
Biomedical Research strongly suggests that
the therapy with Phyllanthus amarus
increases antioxidants and reduces lipid
peroxidation of hepatic cellular and
intracellular membranes and protects liver
damage due to free radicals in hepatitis-C.
Another study published in International
Journal of Biology and Medical Research
found that the therapy with Phyllanthus
amarus increases antioxidants and reduces
lipid peroxidation of hepatic cellular and
intracellular membranes and protects liver
damage due to free radicals in hepatitis-B.
The study focused on effect of Phyllanthus
amarus therapy for protection of liver in
hepatitis B through investigating liver
profile enzymes, antioxidant enzymes,
antioxidant vitamins and lipid peroxidation.
The study consisted of 65 clinical diagnosed
hepatitis B patients ranging in between age
group 25 to 60 years. The control group
includes 65 ages and sex matched normal
healthy persons.
The study reads: “Plasma LPO levels were
significantly high but activity of SOD, GPx,
catalase and levels of vitamin E and vitamin
C were significantly lowered in hepatitis B
on comparison with controls. After
Phyllanthus amarus therapy for four weeks
and eight weeks plasma lipid peroxidation
levels were significantly decreased and
activity of SOD, GPx, catalase and vitamin E
and vitamin C were significantly increased
in hepatitis B.”
Also, scientists suggest that extracts of the
nutritious avocado fruit (botanically called
Persea americana) may be able to lessen the
liver damage caused by the hepatitis
viruses.
A study carried out at Shizuoka University
in Japan and published in Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests
the avocado fruit may have potential. Rats
were given a chemical, which causes similar
liver damage to the hepatitis viruses, and
fed 22 different types of fruit to see if they
made any difference.
The researchers found five compounds
extracted from fruit to have a beneficial
effect, and the most potent of these came
from the avocado.
The scientists are still not sure whether the
same effect could be found in humans, and
say further studies are needed. They also
have no idea how the avocado extract
actually has this effect.
Precisely how much help this would be to
stem the damage caused by hepatitis in
humans is as yet unclear, as often patients
are wholly unaware of their infection until
serious damage has taken place.