Screening Locally Used Herb for Anti - Malaria Potency

ABSTRACT

The potency of five locally used anti-malaria herbs were tested using 70 subjects made up of both volunteers among the undergraduates and patients attending the University Clinic. Of the seventy (70) subjects examined for malaria parasite using thick blood smear, 59 (84.30%) were infected with High prevalences occurred both with male showing 84.30% and female 84.20%. Of 59 infected subjects who started treatment, 40(67.80%) complied with the Herbal treatment. 20 of the 40 subjects were given the complete preparation [comprising Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass), Ocimum gratissimum (saint leaf), Carica papaya (paw-paw leaf), and Azadirchta md/ca, (neem p/ant) with addictives such as All/urn sativum (garlic) and Zin giber officinale, (ginger], 4 Subjects were given preparation without Vernonia amygdalina, another 4 subjects were given preparation without Cymbopogon citratus, another 4 subjects were given preparation without Ocimum gratissimum, another 4 subjects preparation without Carica papaya, the final 4 Subjects were given preparation without Azadirachta indica. The study reveals that five (5) out of the six (6) preparations were effective against malaria parasites including the drug resistant Plasmodium falciparurn after three (3) days of treatment. These were the ones containing A. indica. The ineffective one was the preparation without Azadirachta indica. However all the preparations were able to clear malaria associated symptoms. More research on anti-malariaLlocal herbs is' needed particularly in the area of identification of the active ingredients.