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  • AFRICAN HERBAL PLANTS USED AS ANTI-MALARIAL AGENTS - A REVIEW

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    About Authors:
    Enegide Chinedu*, David Arome, Solomon F. Ameh
    Department of Science Laboratory Technology (Physiology & Pharmacology Technology),
    University of Jos, Jos Nigeria
    *chinex.snow@gmail.com

    Abstract
    Malaria is an infectious disease caused by single-celled obligate parasite known as Plasmodiumand is transmitted to man through the vector Anophelesmosquito. It has persistently been a major public health problem to the global community. As estimate has shown that globally, about 3.3 billion people were at risk of malaria in the year 2011. It has now been ranked among the world's top killer infectious diseases and remains the most prominent cause of death and illness in Africa particularly among pregnant women and children under the age of five years. Due to the development of drug-resistance by the malaria parasites and also the development of resistance to various insecticides by the vector, development of new antimalarial agents is imperative and herbal plants have for long been a major source of new drug discovery. Consequently, in various African countries, several plants have been reported to be having antimalarial effects and are being applied traditionally as antimalarial agents. The purpose of this review article therefore, is to collate and document different plants used traditionally as antimalarials in six African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Ethopia, Benin, Cameroon and Togo). One hundred and fifteen herbal plants from the six African countries have been captured in this article due to their local usage as antimalarial agents. The array of medicinal plants employed as antimalarial agents in Africa, unveils a promising source for the development of new and better antimalarial drugs. Scientific investigations should therefore be carried-out on them.

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  • HERBAL PLANTS A RELIABLE SOURCE FOR DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT

    About Authors:
    Enegide Chinedu*, David Arome, Solomon F. Ameh
    Department of Science Laboratory Technology (Physiology & Pharmacology Technology),
    University of Jos, Jos Nigeria.
    *chinex.snow@gmail.com

    Abstract
    Though remarkable success have been achieved in the discovery and development of various drugs for the treatment and management of several ailments, there is still need for more discoveries. This is due to the reason that some of the drugs currently in use posseses one or more of the following drawbacks (i) high toxicity level (ii) increase lose of effectiveness or low efficacy (iii) costly or (iv) inaccessable. Herbs have now become the main stream for drug discovery and development. Conservative estimate have revealed that there are over 250,000 higher plant species, and only a minute proportion have been screened exhaustively for their possible therapeutic properties. Atleast, over 120 unique pharmacological substances derived from plants are currently being used as drugs in various countries in the world. Apart from the direct use of plant derivatives as therapeutic agents, they can also serve as models for the design, synthesis or semisynthesis of other therpeutic agents. In conclusion, herbs are a reliable source for more discovery and development of new drugs. The scientific community should therefore harness this resource by improving research on it.

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