Use of Artemisia annua L. Infusion for Malaria Prevention: Mode of Action and Benefits in a Ugandan Community

Nov 8

British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, ISSN: 2231-2919
Research Paper
Use of Artemisia annua L. Infusion for Malaria Prevention: Mode of Action and Benefits in a Ugandan Community

Patrick E. Ogwang1,4*, Jasper O. Ogwal2, Simon Kasasa3, Francis Ejobi4, David Kabasa4 and Celestino Obua2

1Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute, Ministry of Health, P. O. Box 4864, Kampala, Uganda; 2Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072 Kampala, Uganda; 3School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072,

Malaria is major public health problem in Uganda, it’s endemic in 95% contributing up to 40% of hospital outpatient attendances. Approaches to controlling the disease include environmental, entomological and medicinal interventions. Some communities use medicinal plants to control the disease. In this paper we report the use of Artemisia annua L. for malaria prophylaxis at a Ugandan floricultural farm. We conducted a survey of the farm workers to determine extent of use of A. annua ‘tea’, their clinic attendance patterns and also quantified the levels of artemisinin and flavonoids in A. annua. We further tested the effect of artemisinin devoid extract in laboratory animal models. Findings from the survey showed that 84.2% of the managers and 62% of field workers in this farm consumed A. annua ‘tea’ once a week to prevent malaria and related fevers. Clinic attendance due to fevers or symptoms associated with malaria was reduced by 80% while cases of laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of malaria reduced by 16.7%. Laboratory test of A. annua leaf powder used in the community indicated the presence of artemisinin (0.4% to 0.5%) and flavonoids (9% to 11%). A. annua extract devoid of artemisinin was found to significantly boost monocyte counts in albino rats (p<0.001).The action of these flavonoids could explain the mechanism of prophylaxis of A. annua ‘tea’. A. annua variety or product thereof rich in flavonoids but devoid of artemisinin should be developed and tried for mass prevention of malaria as a beverage or food taken regularly.

Link to the full research article: https://www.journaljpri.com/index.php/JPRI/article/view/994

ARTEMISIA ANNUA

Proving URDT Uganda

Jan-Feb 2011

Symptoms for Artemisia annua