Journal of
Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy

  • Abbreviation: J. Pharmacognosy Phytother.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2502
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPP
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 235

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative pharmacognostic and chromatographic assessment of COVID-ORGANICS (CVO) herbal product and Artemisia annua L.

ADIGWE Obi Peter
  • ADIGWE Obi Peter
  • National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P. M. B 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
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IBRAHIM Jemilat Aliyu
  • IBRAHIM Jemilat Aliyu
  • National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P. M. B 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • Google Scholar
FATOKUN Omolola Temitope
  • FATOKUN Omolola Temitope
  • National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P. M. B 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
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ADAMU Aliyu
  • ADAMU Aliyu
  • National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P. M. B 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
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ESIEVO Kevwe Benefit
  • ESIEVO Kevwe Benefit
  • National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P. M. B 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
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OKHALE Samuel
  • OKHALE Samuel
  • National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P. M. B 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
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JEGEDE Ibikunle Adeola
  • JEGEDE Ibikunle Adeola
  • National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P. M. B 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
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EGHAREVBA Henry Omoregi
  • EGHAREVBA Henry Omoregi
  • National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P. M. B 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
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KUNLE Olobayo Olufunsho
  • KUNLE Olobayo Olufunsho
  • National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P. M. B 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
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  •  Received: 18 March 2020
  •  Accepted: 18 June 2021
  •  Published: 31 October 2021

Abstract

Many claims from herbal medicines have been developed to manage COVID-19. Tests for identity and purity are important parameters in the quality assurance of herbal medicines. The aim of this study is to confirm the presence of Artemisia annua as a component of COVID-ORGANICS, an acclaimed herbal product for the management of COVID-19 in comparism with A. annua cultivated at NIPRD, Abuja, Nigeria. Pharmacognostic and physicochemical investigations, thin layer and high-performance Liquid chromatography of Covid-Organics along with A. annua were carried out using standard procedures. Similar microscopic features viz T-shaped, glandular, unicellular and uniseriate trichomes, wavy epidermal cells with anomocytic stomata and prismatic calcium oxalate crystals characteristic of A. annua were observed. Moisture, total ash and sulphated ash contents ranged from 8.5 ± 0.0 to 10.4 ± 0.2%w/w; 7.8 ± 0.5 to 12.1 ± 0.1%w/w and 9.7 ± 0.3 to 15.9 ± 0.4%w/w, respectively while water and alcohol soluble extractive values ranged from 20.6 ± 0.5 to 33.7 ± 0.7%w/w; and 23.4 ± 0.6 to 38.2 ± 0.6%w/w respectively. TLC and HPLC profiles showed artemisinin in evaluated samples. The findings confirm that Covid-Organics contain A. annua. The domestication of A. annua in Nigeria along with studies carried out has shown the capacity and technical know-how to develop a phytomedicine from A. annua for management of COVID-19 associated symptoms. This is possible with the provision of the enabling environment in order to provide medicines’ security. Relevant policies are therefore needed to prioritise the development of the sector.

Key words: Covid-Organics, Artemisia annua, pharmacognostic studies, chromatographic fingerprint