RP scientists developing cure for malaria out of makahiya plant

Government scientists are now looking at the possibility of developing an herbal medicine for malaria from the "makahiya" plant. Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology, said Wednesday that the research on makahiya is among the studies being pursued by the agency for herbal medicine. Montoya told reporters during a forum in Quezon City that the study on the medicinal value of makahiya (scientific name: Mimosa pudica) came upon after reports that minority groups in the Philippines boil the roots and leaves of the herb and drink the broth as cure for malaria. He explained that a government survey done in the 1970s showed that some tribes in the Cordillera and Visayas have been using this method. “Now we’re still studying which part of the plant has the chemical and the active ingredient that can be used as cure for malaria," he said. Montoya said that as of the latest government tally, only 20 of the 81 provinces in the country have not reported cases of malaria. The DOST official, however, said that one of the concerns at this point are the reported cases of malaria strains that are resistant to medication like those in Palawan. Montoya said this happens when a strain of the malaria virus develops resistance to a specific drug. He said the government allocates around P7 million annually for the development of herbal medicines in the country. Existing drugs from herbs include lagundi tablet and pediatric syrup for cough and asthma; sambong tablet for urolithiasis; akapulko lotion for fungal infection; yerba Buena tablet for pain relief and ampalaya tablet for diabetes. Montoya said other possible herbal medicines in the pipeline are saluyot for constipation and guyabano and guava for tuberculosis. - GMANews.TV