Scientists Call for Protection of Plants That Can Be Used to Treat Malaria

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Publisher

29 April 2011

African scientists are calling for more research “to prevent the extinction of trees and shrubs with antimalarial properties that could guide the discovery of new generation of antimalarials and other life-saving drugs,” SciDev.Net reports .”A new book by researchers at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) … provides a detailed assessment of 22 of the region’s malaria-fighting trees and shrubs. While over a thousand plant species have been identified by traditional healers as effective in the prevention or treatment of malaria symptoms, the species in the book were assigned by both traditional medicinal practitioners and scientists as those that have potential for further study,” states a press release from ICRAF and KEMRI.

“According to researchers, many species of trees in East Africa are at high risk of extinction due to deforestation and over-exploitation for medicinal uses. Scientists in the field have been able to identify at-risk tree species, including those that have antimalarial qualities, by monitoring deforestation in the region and by talking to herbalists and local communities. According to researchers, not all species of antimalarial trees are at risk, particularly those that grow wild in lowland and coastal areas,” according to the release.

In other malaria coverage, the Financial Times published a series of reports about the disease. Articles examine diagnostic tools, vaccine development and other approaches to malaria control. The series also contains some opinion pieces about efforts to fight malaria.

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