Virologic and immunologic outcome of treatment of HIV infection with a herbal concoction, A-zam, among clients seeking herbal remedy in Nigeria

Abstract

This study was to determine the effectiveness (CD4 count and viral load) of a safe herbal concoction, α-Zam usedby clients seeking herbal remedy for treatment of HIV infection in Nigeria. 51 patients taking α-Zam as complementary andalternative therapy through the herbal therapist were studied for a period of 16 months. Preliminary medical andlaboratory examinations using WHO and CDC criteria were done after confirmation of HIV infection by Western blotting inthe nearest teaching hospitals to the residence of the patients. Regular visits were paid to the patients aftercommencement of the α-Zam to assess the side-effects, drug interactions, toxicity and effectiveness of the herbal remedy.There was a statistical significance (P<0.05) between pre-treatment and post-treatment CD4 count. 4 (7.8%) of thepatients had average increase in CD4 count of 262±16 cell/μL, 23 (45.1%) patients with average increase 310±16 cell/μL, 16(31.4%) patients with average increase 456±25 cell/μL and 8 (15.7%) patients with average increase 510±36 cell/μL(%)were at WHO staging I, II, III and IV respectively within 4 months on herbal therapy. There was very marked reduction inviral (HIV-RNA) load with 41 (80.4%) and10 (19.6%) HIV infected patients had undetectable viral load and <1000 copies/mlrespectively after the therapy. All symptoms and signs associated with HIV infection in all patients fully subsided within 4weeks of commencement of α-zam therapy and there was no evidence of negative drug interaction in those HIV patientsusing both the herbal and highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). The study is in progress to determine periodicimmunological outcomes of post therapy in all patients.