TWENTY-SIX years after its existence, Ajadilopea  an anti-malaria spice invented by a retired University of Ilorin lecturer, Dr. Gabriel Ajadi, has finally received the blessings of the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The Guardian had under its Natural Health Column published the invention 13 years ago, (November 26 1998), under a headline: 'Bye bye to Malaria in 30 Minutes'.

However the spice had to undergo series of tests and experiments before the NAFDAC recognition could be given. The NAFDAC number in a letter dated, 17th November 2011 was coded as A7-1026L in a letter signed and sealed by one K.O Mamudu, a Pharmacist, for the Director General of the NAFDAC.

The letter referenced DRN/H-N-246/I, is entitled, Notification of Product Registration. Excerpts: "I am directed to inform you that the agency has registered the following product: Ajadilopea Herbal Powder x1g.

"It contains; tetrapleura tetraptera, xylopia aethiopica, allium porrum, zingiber officinale.

Already, Ajadi, now a contract staff with Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Moro Council of Kwara state, has repackaged the spice in conformity with the specification needs of the NAFDAC.

Recounting his experience to The Guardian in Ilorin, Ajadi, who, two years ago, retired from the Department of Modern European Languages (English), Unilorin, said he was guided by intuition adding: "And intuition, philosophers believe, is superior to intellect.

"The propelling factor behind the research was an exasperating experience with malaria fever in July 1985.

"I had just returned to the country about seven months then after a sojourn in the United States of America for about 10 years, (1975-1985).

"I was tortured for days: every day was as long as a month! I actually thought that I was going to die; it seemed like a terminal illness! It was guessed that that was because immunity for malaria had been lost.

"I had to start preparing my will after having taken all the drugs prescribed without much improvement.

"However as God would have it, I recovered through God's grace. I started to undertake my own research.

"For about two weeks, I was going to see what I could get from the herbal markets. Ingredients were carefully selected and their chemical contents were studied. The major tool was the intuition and insight."

He added: "The components of the drug were collected and pounded together after about six weeks of consistent labour. The initial observation was that the aroma was so pleasing: it was sharp and induced a lot of sneezing. That was pleasing.

"Since the malaria I had had not been cured, I made myself the first patient, since research protocol would not be needed. When the medication was taken, it occasioned sweating profusely; the temperature dropped; the appetite returned; and a very clear sense of being well again was felt because all the attendant pains such as headache, pains in the joints, restlessness and so forth had all disappeared within 30 minutes!"

The children of the inventor, five of them (who were then undergraduates at various Nigerian Universities) became the next beneficiaries of the spice.

Their mother came next. Today it has become a household name in Ilorin the Kwara state capital and adjoining settlements. He ruled out any addition of chloroqiune to the spice.

He noted: "We used local herbs for its preparation and it is not bitter. I am ready to subject it to any medical proof on this claim of chloroquine thing and any other tests that may be required."

Excerpts of the article as published by The Guardian edition and consequently posted on the nets read: A Nigerian English teacher could be on the threshold of a medical breakthrough should the herbal preparation he discovered by accident prove effective in the cure of malaria, a tropical scourge that kills about one million people annually in Africa.

The spice called Ajadilopea, found by Gabriel Ajadi of the University of Ilorin, in Central Nigeria, has already turned the lecturer into an instant celebrity within the University community and its environs.

He claims that from the herbs, which are all locally available, he made the preparation that not only knocks out malaria in 30 minutes but also confers the user with immunity for several years."

The spice weighs approximately 300 milligrams a sachet. It is taken orally three times a day for both curative and preventive purposes.

One of Ajadi's colleagues, Ibukun-Olu Alade of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital's (UITH) Epidemiology Department, testified to Ajadilopea's efficacy.

"I used it in April 1985 and I have not had any bout of malaria since then,' he said, adding: 'it is with confidence that I therefore recommend the general use of the drug to whoever may require it."

The drug has become so popular in Ilorin that it is now being used as a test for typhoid fever. The theory is that since typhoid presents malaria symptoms while Ajadilopea cures malaria, persistent malaria treatment with the herb may also cure typhoid.

This could be potentially dangerous for self-medication procedure, but so far, it has worked for the growing number of those singing the praise of Ajadilopea.

Prof Akinyemi Araoye of the UITH Health Science Department is said to have carried out successful preliminary laboratory tests on it.

After the samples were administered on five patients with "overt symptoms of classical acute febrile attack of malaria" they all reportedly received relief after 30 minutes of medication.

Laboratory proof of "eradication of parasitaemia" was also reported in three of the patients within 48 hours.

None of the healed patients reported any side effects. The tests also revealed that Ajadilopea destroys the malaria causing plasmodium parasite, even in cases of severe infection.

The herb is also hailed for its low toxicity and palatability, which means that it could be added to stew or beverage without much alteration to its original slight peppery taste.

Apart from its ability to keep malaria at bay for years with only one dose, Ajadilopea is relatively inexpensive with its therapeutic and prophylactic spice made from some 20 different herbs.