TD Zaria, Nigeria — A groundbreaking milestone has been recorded in Nigeria’s fight against malaria as Prof. Hadiza Nuhu, an associate professor of pharmacy at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has successfully developed Herb 25, a herbal anti-malaria medicine that has received registration from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The development marks a significant achievement in indigenous pharmaceutical research and innovation.
The university officials described Herb 25 as the first university-produced anti-malaria herbal drug in Nigeria.
The breakthrough is the culmination of 12 years of intensive scientific research aimed at harnessing the medicinal potential of Nigerian herbs in the treatment of malaria.
According to ABU, Herb 25 is an enhanced ethnomedical preparation formulated from herbs traditionally used across Nigeria for malaria treatment.
The formulation combines indigenous medicinal knowledge with modern scientific validation to provide a standardized herbal remedy for patients suffering from malaria.
One of the drug’s key innovations is its effectiveness against chloroquine-resistant malaria, a growing public health concern in many malaria-endemic regions.
Resistance to older anti-malaria drugs has complicated treatment efforts, making the search for new therapies increasingly important.
Herb 25 has also been designed with patient convenience in mind.
The medication is packaged in tea bags, allowing users to prepare the herbal treatment simply by adding hot water.
The formulation aims to improve ease of administration while maintaining consistency in dosage and quality.
Prof. Nuhu serves as a senior lecturer in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development at ABU.
She earned her Ph.D. from the university and has built a distinguished career in the study of medicinal plants and natural product drug development.
Beyond her academic role, she is a member of the Nigerian Society of Pharmacognosy.
Meanwhile, she serves as Research Director of the Association of Commonwealth Traditional Medicine Practitioners, West Africa.
The feat reflects her longstanding commitment to advancing evidence-based traditional medicine.
The registration of Herb 25 by NAFDAC represents an important regulatory milestone.
It indicates that the product has met the agency’s requirements for registration.
It also underscores the growing role of Nigerian universities in translating academic research into products with practical healthcare applications.
Malaria remains one of Nigeria’s leading public health challenges, accounting for a substantial share of global malaria cases and deaths.
Health experts have consistently emphasized the need for expanded research and innovation.
They also emphasized the need for locally developed solutions to complement existing prevention and treatment strategies.
The successful development of Herb 25 is expected to strengthen confidence in locally driven pharmaceutical research.
It may equally encourage further investment in the scientific development of traditional medicines.
Researchers say the achievement demonstrates the potential of collaboration between academia, regulatory agencies, and traditional medicinal knowledge in addressing some of Africa’s most pressing health challenges.
The innovation is also being viewed as a testament to the capacity of Nigerian researchers to develop homegrown healthcare solutions capable of contributing to national and regional efforts to reduce the burden of malaria.
