More than half of the world populations are at the risk of malaria disease and it has become endemic in almost 102 countries globally thereby accounting for 1.1 million deaths per year. Therefore, the present study for the first time provides an inventory for the herbal species used traditionally in the treatment and management of malaria fever in Madobi Town, Kano State, Nigeria. Thirty six (36) semi-structured questionnaires were employed principally on herbalists, traditional healers, hunters and farmers for the purpose of this study. The findings of the survey revealed that 44 different plant species belonging to 40 genera, cutting across 30 families were cited by the respondents as traditionally employed antimalarial agents by the inhabitants in the study area. Senna occidentalis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Mangiferaindica of the families Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Anacardiaceae respectively, were repeatedly mentioned as the three most widely used plants for the treatment of malaria in the study area through oral administration of concoction made from their leaves with other plants. Interestingly, Swartziamadagascariensis and Olaxsubscopioidea are reported for the first time to be used in the treatment of malaria in this study. In general, the most commonly used families were Fabaceae (11.36%), Anacardiaceae and Combretaceae (9.09%), Rutaceae, Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae and Moraceae (4.55%) respectively. The study recommends further laboratory and clinical research on these plants so as to identify and isolate the lead compounds responsible for this pharmacological activity with a view to develop promising antimalarial drugs.

Background Malaria remains a major global health challenge and a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, limited access to medical facilities has perpetuated the reliance of indigenous communities on herbal medicine for the prevention and management of malaria. This study was undertaken to document ethnobotanical knowledge on medicinal plants prescribed for managing malaria in Rukungiri District, a meso-endemic malaria region of Western Uganda. Methods An ethnobotanical survey was carried out between May 2022 and December 2022 in Bwambara Sub-County, Rukungiri District, Western Uganda using semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 125 respondents (81 females and 44 males) were randomly selected and seven (7) key informants were engaged in open interviews. In all cases, awareness of herbalists on malaria, treatment-seeking behaviour and herbal treatment practices were obtained. The ethnobotanical data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, informant consensus factor and preference ranking. Results The study identified 48 medicinal plants belonging to 47 genera and 23 families used in the treatment of malaria and its symptoms in the study area. The most frequently cited species were Vernonia amygdalina, Aloe vera and Azadirachta indica. Leaves (74%) was the most used plant organ, mostly for preparation of decoctions (41.8%) and infusions (23.6%) which are administered orally (89.6%) or used for bathing (10.4%). Conclusions Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used as prophylaxis and for treatment of malaria still exist among the local communities of Bwambara Sub-County. However, there is a need to investigate the antimalarial efficacy, phytochemical composition and safety of species (such as Digitaria abyssinica and Berkheya barbata) with high percentage use values to validate their use.

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in the treatment of malaria in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria was carried out between March and June, 2019. Ethno-botanical data were collected by oral interview with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire administered to forty-seven (47) herb sellers. The respondents were aware of the signs and symptoms of malaria and could readily distinguish the ailments from other feverish symptoms and conditions. Symptoms reported include body weakness, high body temperature (hot skin), loss of appetite, coldness, mouth bitterness, headache, coloured eyes (yellow), sleepless night and urine colouration (yellowish). From the study, a total of thirteen (13) plant species belonging to nine (9) families including Aannonaceae, Aapocynaceae, Rrubiaceae, Oochnaaceae were described as being used for the treatment of malaria. The plant parts used were leaves, root, stem bark and seed with roots being the most used plant part. It was also observed that ...

Background Malaria remains the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. Although recent developments such as malaria vaccine trials inspire optimism, the search for novel antimalarial drugs is urgently needed to control the mounting resistance of Plasmodium species to the available therapies. The present study was conducted to document ethnobotanical knowledge on the plants used to treat symptoms of malaria in Tororo district, a malariaendemic region of Eastern Uganda. Methods An ethnobotanical study was carried out between February 2020 and September 2020 in 12 randomly selected villages of Tororo district. In total, 151 respondents (21 herbalists and 130 non-herbalists) were selected using multistage random sampling method. Their awareness of malaria, treatment-seeking behaviour and herbal treatment practices were obtained using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, paired comparison, preference ranking and informant consensus factor. Results A total of 45 plant species belonging to 26 families and 44 genera were used in the preparation of herbal medicines for management of malaria and its symptoms. The most frequently mentioned plant species were Vernonia amygdalina, Chamaecrista nigricans, Aloe nobilis, Warburgia ugandensis, Abrus precatorius, Kedrostis foetidissima, Senna occidentalis, Azadirachta indica and Mangifera indica. Leaves (67.3%) were the most used plant part while maceration (56%) was the major method of herbal remedy preparation. Oral route was the predominant mode of administration with inconsistencies in the posology prescribed. Conclusion This study showed that the identified medicinal plants in Tororo district, Uganda, are potential sources of new antimalarial drugs. This provides a basis for investigating the antimalarial efficacy, phytochemistry and toxicity of the unstudied species with high percentage use values to validate their use in the management of malaria.