Umuahia – Prof. Maduike Ezeife, a Researcher with Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia, has said that Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate (AMS) produced from Nigeria’s solid minerals, can boost the nation’s foreign exchange earnings, if properly harnessed.
Maduike said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Umuahia, describing AMS as a veritable raw material for pharmaceutical companies.
He also said that AMS had proved to be effective in the treatment of Human-Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV), saying that at least 300 people living with the virus in Nigeria and abroad had tested negative after using the drug.
He said that in addition to its antiviral effects, the drug had been used to potentiate Ampicilin, Chloroquine, Piperazine and Sulphadimidin, among other related pharmaceutical products.
“The drug is also a pharmaceutical raw material that can make drugs work and yet cheaper.”
According to Ezeibe, the drug, produced from two medicinal minerals abundant in Nigeria, has also proved to be effective against seven viruses so far tested.
The viruses Bird Flu, human measles viruses and canine distemper virus.
“Because of its effectiveness against these viruses causing epidemics and epizootics the world over, it is suggested that it should be tested against other viruses of poultry, farm animals and man, including HIV, Swine Flu and Mad Cow Disease viruses.
“If it proves to be a good tablet binder, it may become a source of foreign exchange for Nigeria.”
He, therefore, charged the Federal Ministries of Health, Solid Minerals and Science and Technology “to investigate my claims” in the ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to diversify the economy.
He said that his ambition was to produce the drug in commercial quantity as antiviral drug and raw materials for pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria and abroad but said that he needed financial assistance.
Ezeibe said that he had approached the Bank of Industry for a loan to purchase the equipment to mass produce the drug but regretted that he lacked the needed collateral to qualify for the facility.
He also said that he had applied for N50 million loan from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund through the University.
Ezeife said that if approved, the university would deploy the fund toward achieving mass production and and dispensing of the drug.
Ezeibe, a Professor of Veterinary Medicine, is slated to present a paper on the potential of the drug as both antiviral and raw material at a world conference on “Ethnopharmacology” taking place in Chicago, U.S. on May 2. (NAN)
