Comparative efficacy of Ayush-64 vs chloroquine in vivax malaria

A phase II prospective comparative randomized clinical trial was conducted in patients of vivax malaria to compare the efficacy of Ayush-64 vs chloroq uine, Ayush-64, a herbal formulation patented by Council of Ayurveda and Si ddha was compared with chloroquine. Patients received an oral dose of eithe r 1 g Ayush-64, three times a day for 5-7 days or a total dose of 1500 mg c hloroquine over 3 days. Peripheral smears were examined everyday for 3 days or till they were negative and then weekly up to 28 days. The results of the study showed that at day 28, only 23 of 47 (48.9%) patie nts in the Ayush group and all the 41 in the chloroquine group were cured ( p < 0.05). Even in these 23 patients in the Ayush group parasite clearance time was longer than chloroquine (3.16 vs 1.5 days). Both regimens were gen erally well tolerated. In conclusion, Ayush-64 in a dose of 1 g three times a day for 5-7 days is not as effective for treatment of vivax malaria, as standard chloroquine therapy.