Some called it chew, sub or rub but tobacco (scientific name, Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica) has been popular since the olden times. It has been dubbed with many names but tobacco which is a popular product for the manufacture of cigars and cigarette is also popular for the many serious adverse effects such as dependence, impotence and other serious cardiovascular consequences. Recent developments however found tobacco as a potential drug against Ebola.
Because of the recent outbreak of Ebola virus in West Africa, all the global population has been in panic. Thousands and still counting have died from this deadly hemorrhagic virus including health workers. Health care workers have died recently and are continued to be exposed to this lethal virus. Researchers and scientists are more than willing to find a drug that would arrest this deadly virus.
In an experimental study conducted by Map Biopharmaceutical Inc., Ebola virus is introduced to mice as experimental subjects and as the mice's body respond to the virus, it naturally develops antibodies against it. These antibodies which contains specialized proteins that may be useful to ward off the infection, is then harvested. Tobaccos are then exposed to the harvested antibodies in such a way that the tobacco's natural processing mechanism process the antibodies from the mice and develop it into a stronger antibody. This developed antibodies is then extracted and manufactured to this experimental drug, Zmapp. The experimental drug studied has been seen to have affected the two individuals infected with Ebola virus positively.
Although this breakthrough drug has shown some promise, the drug still has been subjected to further research before it could be moved to human trials. However, the Liberian president announced on Monday that the U.S. is planning to deliver samples of the experimental serum to areas in Liberia. Researchers and scientist are more convinced to go beyond the boundaries of medicine to be able to discover the "miracle" drug that could cure the deadliest virus that ever struck mankind.
