Initial analyses for lagundi, VCO as COVID-19 cure out by July

Preliminary results on the studies of Philippine herbal medicines lagundi and virgin coconut oil as a potential treatment for COVID-19  patients will be released possibly by next month.

Dr. Jaime Montoya of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) told "Dobol B TV" on Sunday, "'Yung VCO at lagundi malapit na po siguro by next month baka mayroong preliminary analyses kung ano sinasabi ng datos ng pag aaral na ito" (Data on studies for VCO and lagundi will be nearly complete and will be out soon by next month).

Doctor Montoya is the director of the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.

Earlier, DOST chief Fortunato Dela Peña said clinical studies for the use of VCO against COVID-19 will be completed by the end of June while clinical trials for lagundi began in October last year. 

DOST completed its Phase 2 of clinical trials for VCO in November while completion of hospital-based clinical trials for if was supposed to end on May 31, 2021. 

As for COVID-19 clinical trials for herbal plant tawa-tawa, Montoya said they are still waiting for more volunteers to participate in its study.

"'Yung tawa-tawa po medyo hindi ganoon kabilis yung pagkukuha ng lalahok kasi ito ay boluntaryo so ito matatagalan pa nang kaunti. (Studies on tawa-tawa plant won't be as fast because we are still looking for volunteers)," Montoya said.

In 2020, the science and technology department said it is also looking into using tawa-tawa to improve treatment for patients infected with the novel coronavirus 2019.

In November, Montoya also revealed that Phase 1 clinical trials were  being conducted for tawa-tawa. —LBG, GMA News