Evaluation of Artemisia Annua and Moringa

Introduction Artemisia annua L is a medicinal plant traditionally used for treatment of malaria and other diseases in China. The extract of leaves of the plant has been demonstrated in-vitro to have potent anti HIV effects and in vivo to improve levels of lymphocytes in laboratory animals. Effect on lymphocyte stimulation has also been observed in non HIV persons taking the leaves of the plant as a tea for malaria prophylaxis in Uganda. Objective To determine the effect of A.annua L and Moringa oleifera leaf powder on CD4 cell count and other immunological indices in HAART HIV patients. Materials and Methods In this study Artemisia annua leaf powder and Moringa leaf powder will be investigated. The study will be a three arm randomized Phase II study involving adult patients with HIV-infection on HAART with CD4 below 350. The CD4 cell count, and other immunological indices in patients receiving HAART will be compared with those patients receiving additionally Artemisia annua powder with Moringa oleifera powder or Artemisia annua powder alone. The study will be conducted at the HIV clinic in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital while laboratory tests will be done at Mbarara University of Science and Technology clinical and pharmaceutical sciences laboratories. Expected outcome The primary outcome will be change in mean (Median) CD 4 cell count. Secondary outcomes will be mean (or median) changes, viral load, complete blood count and other HIV associated immunological indices , Performance status and incidence of adverse effects like nausea, diarrhoea, weight gain and or loss. Expected benefits Adequate immunological recovery is one of the desired outcomes in HIV care. HAART combinations do not directly aid immunological recovery and some patients fail to have adequate immunological recovery despite adequate suppression of viral load. There are many patients using herbal supplements but there is limited scientific clinical evidence on the benefit of these supplements in HAART patients.