giftsofhealth.org/ritam

June 2011

1. IDAY conference on Artemisia annua in Africa, European Parliament, Brussels (16^th June 2011).

A conference was held on the occasion of the International Day of the African Child and hosted by the NGO www.iday.org . The focus was on the use of herbal preparations of Artemisia annua for the treatment of malaria. Experiences were shared from a variety of NGOs including IDAY, IFBV and Anamed. Further clinical trials of Artemisia annua are being planned in Benin, Cameroon and Senegal, to improve the evidence base for its use. There was also discussion on agricultural aspects of cultivating the plant, and methods for promoting its use in different countries. It was emphasised that all the published clinical trials to date have included only adults and older children, so the evidence only justifies promotion in these groups. There is currently no evidence base for its use as a treatment in young children (age <5 years). Although Artemisia annua tea seems to be used increasingly as a prophylactic, no studies have yet been published to investigate whether it prevents malaria.  Further research is needed on other preparations and possible combinations of Artemisia annua with other plants, which may improve its effectiveness.

It is clear that while Artemisia annua grows well in certain conditions, Africa has a huge range of environments and climatic conditions, not all of which are suitable for cultivating Artemisia annua. It is important also to investigate what local plants are available which may be easier to cultivate, and which may also be useful for the treatment of malaria. One example is Argemone mexicana which grows well in drier conditions of the Sahel, and has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria.

2. Informal meeting on medicinal plants, immunology and malaria

Tuesday 5th July 2011, 2-5pm. Board Room, Department of Primary Health Care, 3^rd Floor, 23-38 Hythe Bridge St, Oxford OX1 2EP

An informal meeting is planned in Oxford to start exploring the hypothesis that some herbal medicines may have an indirect effect on malaria by stimulating the immune response. A variety of screening tests have been used to look for immunostimulatory effects, but are these relevant to malaria? We are planning to follow this up with a second meeting in October, and to start planning further research on this.

1. General introduction: aims and objectives of the meeting (Merlin Willcox)

2. The natural immune response to malaria: how do people in endemic areas acquire partial immunity to malaria, and what are the mechanisms,

– in recovery from uncomplicated malaria

– in avoidance of / survival from severe malaria

(Dr Brian De Souza, LSHTM; Oxford malaria vaccine group)

3. Screening plant extracts for their effect on the immune system, with possible relevance to malaria:

– Prof Berit Smestad Paulsen, Dept of Pharmacology, University of Oslo: studies on immunomodulatory plants

– Dr Richard Beatson, King’s College London: studies on immunomodulatory effects of Vernonia amygdalina

– Dr Deniz Tasdemir, School of Pharmacy, University of London: malaria prophylaxis and liver stages

4. Discussion along the following lines:

– What are the most important mechanisms of natural immunity to malaria, and what is the best way to test for a possible effect of plant extracts on these?

- What are the mechanisms by which plasmodium evades the immune response, and can we counter these factors?

- Can we modulate the immune response in cerebral malaria to the benefit of the patient?

– What potential roles could there be for an immunostimulant plant extract? E.g. prophylaxis / adjunct to standard treatment / adjuvant to vaccines

– Is it worth developing a proposal for a multidisciplinary research project to investigate this further?

3. Multidisciplinary University Traditional Health Initiative (MUTHI): Clinical training workshop

Thank you to those who completed the clinical training needs assessment earlier this year. A training workshop on clinical trials on herbal medicines will be hosted by the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, from 31^st October to 4^th November 2011. There are 25 places for African researchers, of which 10 are subsidised, and 15 would need to pay course fees. The deadline for applications is 19^th July 2011. If you would like to apply, please complete the registration form at:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDF6ak1nME9obU9zMDNXbG1pN2thS0E6MQ

4. The 14th Symposium of the Natural Product Research Network for Eastern and Central Africa (NAPRECA): “NATURAL PRODUCTS FROM AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY”

Pre-symposium workshop on 1-5 August at the Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi. Main symposium on 8 – 12th August 2011, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya. For more information see: http://www.napreca.net/14symposium/

5. International Conference on Ethnobotany, Maputo, Mozambique

This conference will be held from 23-25 November 2011. The theme is valorisation of African biodiversity, options for sustainable development and contribution to the fight against poverty. Further details are available from adelaide.agostinho@mct.gov.mz

6. Recent Publications of Interest

The following are recent publications by RITAM members:

Willcox ML, Burton S, Oyweka R, Namyalo R, Challand S, Lindsey K (2011). Evaluation and pharmacovigilance of projects promoting cultivation and local use of Artemisia annua for malaria.

Malaria Journal. 2011,10(1):84. Available online at: http://www.malariajournal.com/content/10/1/84

J. S. Kebenei,  P. K. Ndalut and A.D. Sabah (2011). Journal of medicinal plants research Vol. 5(8) pp1355 – 1360.

Other publications of interest:

Maurizio Bonati, Francesca Severino, Renzo Bagnati, Andrea Carrà, and Roberto Fanelli. Millet-Porridge with Artemisia annua as First Aid for African Children with Malaria? The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine April 2011, Vol. 17, No. 4: 371-373.
Abstract | Full Text | PDF (116 KB) | PDF Plus (113 KB)

Muthaura, C. N., J. M. Keriko, et al. (2011). “Investigation of some medicinal plants traditionally used for treatment of malaria in Kenya as potential sources of antimalarial drugs.” Experimental Parasitology 127(3): 609-626.

Icacina senegalensis (Icacinaceae), traditionally used for the treatment of malaria, inhibits in vitro Plasmodium falciparum growth without host cell toxicity [Malaria Journal 2011, 10:85]

In vitro antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of crude extracts and compounds from the stem bark of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth (Bignoniaceae) [Parasitology Research DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2363-y]

7. New Members:

We welcome the following new members who have joined since the last newsletter:

Ifeoma Obidike, Division of Drug Screening for Tropical Infectious diseases, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.