African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 13 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring Aloe Plant Extracts as Novel Larvicides for Mosquito Management

Josphat C. Matasyoh1*, Euty M. Wathuta2, Samuel T. Kariuki2, Regina Chepkorir1 and Judith Kavulani3

1Department of Chemistry, Egerton University, P. O. Box 536, Egerton 20107, Kenya.
2Department of Biological Sciences, Egerton University, P. O. Box 536, Egerton 20107, Kenya.
3Department of Biochemistry, Egerton University, P. O. Box 536, Egerton 20107, Kenya.

Accepted 18 February, 2025

The larvicidal activity of extracts from Aloe turkanensis, Aloe ngongensis and Aloe fibrosa against the common malaria vector, Anopheles gambie, was determined. Ground Aloe leaves from the three plants were sequentially extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, acetone and methanol. Only the ethyl acetate extract of A. turkanensis, hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, chloroform and methanol extracts of A. ngongensis and the hexane, acetone and methanol extracts of A. fibrosa showed activity. A series of concentrations of the extracts ranging from 0.05-2 mg/ml (0.005-0.2% w/v) were tested against third instar larvae and their percentage mortalities, LC50 values determined. The ethyl acetate soluble extract of A. turkanensis showed very high larvicidal activity where 100% mortality was achieved at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml and it had an LC50 of 0.11 mg/ml. All the extracts of A. ngongensis showed larvicidal activity to A. gambie larvae, but at higher concentration showing LC50´s of 0.84 (0.55 – 1.27), 1.14 (0.72 – 2.28), 0.98 (0.78 – 1.27), 1.08 (0.90 – 1.28), 2.0 (1.85 – 2.36) for the hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, acetone and methanol, respectively. The three active fractions of A. fibrosa had very close LC50´s ranging from 1.76 – 1.90 mg/ml. Thin layer chromatographic analysis (TLC) showed the presence of chromones and anthrones in the chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts. Application of these extracts to larval habitats may lead to promising results in malaria and mosquito management programmes.

Key words: Aloe, anopheles gambie, larvicidal activity.
 

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-014, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Ethnobotanical Approaches to Malaria Treatment in Cameroon

Saotoing Pierre1*, VroumsiaToua1, Tchobsala2, Tchuenguem Fohouo Fernand-N2, Njan Nloga Alexandre-Michel2 and Messi Jean3

1Department of Life and Earth Sciences, University of Maroua, Ecole Normale Superieure, BP. 46 Maroua, Cameroon.
2Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, BP. 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

3Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P. O. Box 842, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Accepted 2 November, 2024

In order to fight against malaria in Cameroon, an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants was conducted in the town of Maroua, Far North Region of Cameroon from 5th to 30th December 2009 with 800 persons. The survey results revealed that 49 medicinal plants species belonging to 27 families were identified in the fight against malaria. The Cesalpiniaceae family is the most exploited for treatment of malaria. The locals use far more Azadirachta indica, Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava, Cassia occidentalis, Khaya senegalensis, Tamarindus indica, Citrus limonum, Eucalyptus sp., Carica papaya and Cymbopogon citratus for the traditional treatment of malaria. The leaves and barks are the mostly used parts. The decoction is the method of preparation most commonly practiced.

Key words: Malaria, medicinal plants, ethnobotany, Maroua, Cameroon.
 

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In-vitro Comparison of Antiplasmodial Efficacy of Chloroquine Formulations from Local and International Manufacturers Available in Kano

M.D Mukhtar1*, M Bashir2 and A.H. Arzai1

1Microbiology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano. 2Chemiron International Ltd, Plot 12 Block 1B, Metal Bor Road, Ikeja, Lagos C/O Pharmaceutical Promotion Department, Kano Regional Office, Kano.

Accepted 8 November, 2024

The world Health Organization’s committee for the review of medicines encourages a continuous post-marketing surveillance for quality of essential drugs among which chloroquine is one. In compliance with that, samples of oral chloroquine brands belonging to twenty manufacturers both foreign and Nigerian, ten in each case that were on sale in Kano market between January and August, 2004 were investigated for antimalarial quality. Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes were used for the assay of the samples at 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation at 37oC. Overall, antiplasmodial activity of 90% of the Nigerian brands were found to be in conformity with the WHO acceptable limits revelations, against 50% of their foreign counterparts. Nigerian products had the highest frequency of passes in the test. It can therefore be inferred that Nigerian pharmaceutical industries are complying with the current mandate of ensuring good manufacturing practice, a crusade by NAFDAC.

Keywords: Antiplasmodial activity, Nigerian, foreign, chloroquine brands, quality.
 

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Molecular Insights into Glutathione Reductase Function in Malaria Pathogenesis

Viroj Wiwanitkit

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand 10330.

Accepted 15 September, 2024

Glutathione (GSH) is a cysteine-containing tripeptide with reducing and nucleophilic properties which play an important role in cellular protection from oxidative damage of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Glutathione reductase (GR) is an NADPH-dependent enzyme that reduces oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to GSH. Naturally, GR is present in human and in Plasmodium spp. However, the function of the GR in malarial infection is not well characterized. Here, the author used a new gene ontology technology to predict the molecular function and biological process. Using GoFigure server, the molecular function and biological process in human and P. falciparum GR is predicted. Comparing to the human GR, the P. falciparum GR has similar molecular functions as gluthathione disulfide reductase activity, oxidoreductase activity, disulfide oxidoreductase activity and metal ion binding.

Key words: Human, Plamodium falciparum, glutathione reductase, function.
 

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria: Infection Multiplicity and Recrudescence in Tanzania's Mlimba Region

Erasto V. Mbugi1*, Benezeth M. Mutayoba 1, Sakurani T. Balthazary1, Allen L. Malisa2, Thomas B. Nyambo3 and Hassan Mshinda4

1Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), P.O. Box 3017, Morogoro, TANZANIA.
2Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sokoine University of Agriculture P.O. Box 3038, Morogoro,
Tanzania
3Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences (MUCHS), P.O. Box
65001, Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA.
4Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre (IHRDC), Off Mlabani Road, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Kilombero District,

Morogoro, TANZANIA

Accepted 9 March, 2025

Polymorphism and antigenic variation are important biological survival strategies of malaria parasites determining the episode, outcome and implications of treatment interventions. In P. falciparum, polymorphic antigens are associated with the asexual blood-stage; merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2). The MSP2 genes have been invaluable in post-treatment discrimination of parasite resurgence from new infection, especially in high transmission areas. We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on DNA extracted from blood samples of 141 malaria-infected infants, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of PCR products. The findings showed multiplicity of infections of single to six infections with an average of 2.58 infections per patient. Single infections of either 3D7 or FC27 allelic families of the MSP2 gene occurred in 51 patients (50.5%) out of all PCR- RFLP successful samples (n = 101). Out of 15 (10.6%) follow up samples with resurgent parasitaemia, 3 (20%) samples had recrudescent infections while 12 (80%) had variable results. Our findings provide an insight on the prevalence of the genetic determinants of suphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance in Mlimba during the study period, and in the face of rapidly spreading resistance, calls for the periodic surveillance in order to timely detect early warning signal of the deteriorating SP cure rate.

Key words: Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, MSP2 genes, Multiplicity of infections, Mlimba, Tanzania.
 

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

Combating Plasmodium falciparum in sub-Saharan Africa: Antimalarial Strategies and Future Directions

Ehijie FO Enato1 and Augustine O Okhamafe2*

1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, and 2Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria.

Accepted 20 October, 2025

Plasmodium falciparum malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases affecting sub -Saharan Africa, despite the availability of interventions. It exerts tremendous socio-economic and medical burden on the continent, particularly in under five children and pregnant women. In this review, we have attempted to highlight the problems, constraints and the opportunities that are available for effective prevention and control within the region.

Key words: Burden, challenges, interventions, Plasmodium falciparum malaria.