Role of Traditional Antimalarial Plants in the Battle Against the Global Malaria Burden

Abstract

Malaria continues to be a major global public health problem with 3.3 billion people at risk in 106 endemic countries. Globally, over 1000 plants have been used as potential antimalarials in resource-poor settings due to fragile health-care systems and lack of accessibility and affordability of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). Although many believe that the use of medicinal plants that have folklore reputations for antimalarial properties is relatively safe, many herbs may be potentially toxic due to their intrinsic adverse side effects. Therefore, herbal-derived remedies require powerful and deep assessment of their pharmacological qualities to establish their mode of action, safety, quality, and efficacy. In addition, the evolution of drug resistance also demands new antimalarial agents. This can be achieved by forming a vibrant antimalarial discovery pipeline among all stakeholders, including traditional healers, ethnobotanists, scientists, entomologists, pharmacists, and research institutions, for the isolation and characterization of the bioactive compounds with the ultimate objective of finding novel modes of action antimalarial compounds that can be used to fight against drug-resistant malarial parasites.

The counterfeit anti-malarial is a crime against humanity: a systematic review of the scientific evidence

“…It has been estimated that nearly half of the world population (3.4 billion people) is at risk [25,26]. Although it is a preventable and curable illness, it remains one of the most important causes of maternal and childhood morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa [27].…”

“…The artemisinin compounds are derived from the plant Qinghao ( Artemisia annua; Asteraceae), which takes nearly six months to grow and produces artemisinin. Its chemical modification has led to a series of potential anti-malarial drugs (artemether, ART and arteether) [25]. It is in short supply and there is massive demand [7].…”

“…However, the rural poor, particularly those living in remote areas have to walk/travel a long distance to access free treatment. Many villages are inaccessible by road, and only a limited number of health facilities have a regular supply of ACT [25]. Eventually, these people will deal with drug vendors, who knowingly or unknowingly sell fake or substandard drugs, which has ultimately led to the emergence of drug resistance and treatment-failure, and severe morbidity and mortality.…”

Papaya: A gifted nutraceutical plant - a critical review of recent human health research

“…The existing malaria control intervention largely depends on the front-line arsenals like effective case management with artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs), distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) and selective intradomicillary spraying (Karunamoorthi and Sabesan, 2013). However, global-warming concomitant effects, insecticide resistance, and drug resistance have fueled the insurgence and resurgence of many vector-borne diseases, particularly malaria (Karunamoorthi et al, 2010b;Karunamoorthi 2012c).…”

“…It is largely due to the heavy reliance, recurrent and inappropriate pyrethroid usage. Therefore, it has to be addressed immediately to sustain the recent success of vector control, unless it would become uncertain (Karunamoorthi and Sabesan, 2013). It calls for the searching of new insecticides with novel mode of action.…”