Herbal treatment for sickle cells
Hope for sickle-cell patients lies in Nicosan, a herbal drug recently discovered by scientists in Nigeria and Ghana.
By Josephine Maseruka
Hope for sickle-cell patients lies in Nicosan, a herbal drug recently discovered by scientists in Nigeria and Ghana.
Nicosan/Hemoxintm, formerly known as Niprisan, is from four plant extracts which have been used by traditional health providers in Nigeria.
The first and second phase of clinical trials showed a decrease in the frequency of painful episodes and an increase in school attendance of people with sickle-cell disease.
The findings were presented at the 34th Annual Convention of Sickle Cell held at Hyatt regency Dallas Reunion, Texas in September.
It was organised by the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) and attracted thousands of member organisations from across the US, leading researchers, physicians and professors across the world.
Nicosan has been under research for over 10 years by African scientists led by Dr. Ramesh C. Pandey of New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Pandey was hired by the Nigerian government to take part in the research conducted at the National Institute for pharmaceutical Research and Development and at several laboratories in the US.
Laboratory work carried out at the Children’s hospital of Philadelphia, US showed that Nicosan has a strong anti-sickling effect.
Lukiah Mulumba, founder chairperson Uganda american Sickle Cell Rescue Fund in Texas, said studies were done with transgenic sickle mice.
Ends
Hope for sickle-cell patients lies in Nicosan, a herbal drug recently discovered by scientists in Nigeria and Ghana.
Nicosan/Hemoxintm, formerly known as Niprisan, is from four plant extracts which have been used by traditional health providers in Nigeria.
The first and second phase of clinical trials showed a decrease in the frequency of painful episodes and an increase in school attendance of people with sickle-cell disease.
The findings were presented at the 34th Annual Convention of Sickle Cell held at Hyatt regency Dallas Reunion, Texas in September.
It was organised by the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) and attracted thousands of member organisations from across the US, leading researchers, physicians and professors across the world.
Nicosan has been under research for over 10 years by African scientists led by Dr. Ramesh C. Pandey of New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Pandey was hired by the Nigerian government to take part in the research conducted at the National Institute for pharmaceutical Research and Development and at several laboratories in the US.
Laboratory work carried out at the Children’s hospital of Philadelphia, US showed that Nicosan has a strong anti-sickling effect.
Lukiah Mulumba, founder chairperson Uganda american Sickle Cell Rescue Fund in Texas, said studies were done with transgenic sickle mice.
Ends