Immune boosters and other plant-based formulations could be the solution to COVID-19 in Africa besides other health conditions that bank on low immunity.
Madimba, Aug 19, 2020 (Issuewire.com) - Since the onset of COVID-19, many governments and the private sector have intensified their efforts in looking for reliable and effective solutions against the Coronavirus. DRC Congo isn't left out; the government and private companies are in top gear to come up with African solutions to the virus. At this stage, we don't have a vaccine against coronavirus, immune boosters and other preventatives are our only hope. KKOG AFRICA DRC is at the forefront in the search for COVID-19 solutions.
President Félix Tshisekedi formed a Corona Task Force along with the assistance of the Minister of Research and Industry to research local solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 task force spearheads responses to the pandemic, and the Minister mainly assists researchers on various African solutions to the viral infection. The Corona Task Force team includes ministers, doctors, and members of the private sector.
One of the personalities assisted by the task force is Dr. Jerome Munyagi. The 36-year old doctor and researcher had left DRC in March 2019 following threats he had received due to his work in promoting Artemisia in treating Malaria. The doctor has been involved in research on Artemisia as one of the treatments for Malaria. Although earlier reports had indicated the doctor was involved in the research and formulation of COVID-organics, the authorities in Madagascar have refuted those claims and the Dr. confirmed he was not part of the formulation of Madagascar's Artemisia based Covid solution.
The much-publicized herbal tea from Madagascar--COVID-Organics has no clinical protocol even the WHO warned against the use of this "COVID cure," to treat coronavirus. Over the past few months, the herbal product has been proved to have little or no impact on treating COVID-19. A classic example is a report from the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in Nigeria. According to the scientific assessment by NIPRD, the product cannot cure COVID-19 and the Artemisia based drink is little more than a cough suppressant.
Further evidence on the ineffectiveness of Artemisia and of COVID-organics drink is the increasing number of infections in Madagascar. In July, Madagascar's authorities had to impose a total lockdown in the Analamanga from July 6th to July 20th. According to the council of ministers in Madagascar, the measure was put in place to limit coronavirus spread.
The South African minister for health, Zweli Mkhize, said the country would help Madagascar analyze the ingredients in COVID-organics. A leading researcher, Frank Van der Kooy, working with North-West University's Pharmacen center in South Africa, said that Artemisia has strong credentials against Malaria but, the ingredients in COVID-Organics remain a mystery because Madagascar's authorities have made it a secret. Dr. Kooy has done extensive research on the use of Artemisia on HIV/AIDs patients. According to him, much needs to be done to evaluate its effectiveness against COVID-19 as the potency is vague and ineffective.
The Artemisia products being researched in DRC are different from the famous COVID-Organics. The researchers in Congo are working on using a protocol that adheres to clinical research. KKOG is at the forefront of finding practical solutions against the Coronavirus. KKOG has invested in $5 Million USD in state-of-the-art equipment to isolate plant-based molecules that can help in treating COVID-19. The company received requests from Dr. Munyagi in his research on Artemisia for COVID-19; as KKOG has the ability to assist in the extraction of the plant Artemisia which would greatly increase the potency and effectiveness of the plant as a medicine and not a simple tea.
Dr. Munyangi and Mr. Patrick Chapoteau of KKOG are some of the Congolese nationals who relocated from abroad to their motherland to help in researching for potent solutions to COVID-19. Mr. Chapoteau was born in DRC but relocated to Miami over 49 years ago. Currently, he is at KKOG AFRICA DRC as a researcher. Mr. Chapoteau realized he would be able to help his country of birth best by fighting to create a solution to Covid 19.
One of the main areas that KKOG is researching widely is the development of a preventative to boost the immune system. Already the company has come up with one immune booster named "Immunite." This product contains essential vitamins A, B, C, D, B6, Chlorophyll, and CBG. These ingredients play a significant role in boosting immunity and managing the symptoms of respiratory tract infections and inflammation.
Since most severe COVID-19 infections have been reported in people with compromised immunity, it is clear that by increasing the immune system to better combat the virus is key. KKOG's research has determined that CBG strains in Congo are potentially blocking Covid-19 from entering and attaching to the Ace2 receptors, which works sort of like a doorway into our bodies for the virus. Beyond that, it's also possible that the strain could be used to prevent the virus from being able to propagate once its already entered someone's system.
For years KKOG has been doing extensive research on the use of CBG, CBD-based products in treating many health conditions like HIV, Heart Disease, and Lyme Disease. The company has its presence in several African countries, including DRC, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and South Sudan. Plant-based preventatives could be the solution to Africa's immunocompromised population.
Currently, many studies are looking into the use of cannabinoids in treating COVID-19. Researchers at the University of Miami are researching the impact of COVID-19 on American cannabis users.
An Israeli pharmaceutical company InnoCan Pharma Ltd has partnered with Tel Aviv University to come up with CBD-loaded exosomes for treating COVID-19. This product will be availed to patients via inhalation.
According to the Medical cannabis Network, researchers at the Israel Institute of Technology are working on a cannabis terpene formulation to treat COVID-19. The first research is looking at cannabinoids and their effects on the immune system while the second is looking at ACE2 receptors and how the terpene treatment can help stop the virus's entry on the human cells.
In Canada, cannabis research companies, Swysh Inc and Pathway RX and the University of Lethbridge in Alberta have a similar "Immunite" extract that can prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Researchers at Augusta University, Georgia, have reported positive results on CBD products' impact in treating acute respiratory distress syndrome, also called 'cytokine storm,' which is a severe symptom of COVID-19.
The many studies on the immense potential of cannabis-derived products in treating COVID-19 are evidence that "Immunite" could be a potent bullet against the devastating effects of COVID-19 in Africa and the world at large.
According to Mr. Rene Joseph, the CEO of KKOG, "Immunite" is a significant breakthrough that could help in limiting severe COVID-19 infections on the continent of Africa, we are grateful to have had the assistance of the president of Congo as well as all the Ministers who have supported in making our work happen.
About KKOG, DR Congo
The company is part of KKOG Global, a leading producer of plant-based health products mainly derived from cannabis and hemp plants. The mother company is based in California, USA, but the KKOG AFRICA DRC is based in Congo, Kinshasa.
Visit https://kkog.global/, or Twitter for more information.
Media Contact
Shamsun Niazi
+243 819 670 182
Kinshasa, DRC Congo
Source :KKOG DRC (www.kkog.global)
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