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.

www.gifts-ritam.org

Newsletter No 52 –  March 2011

Multidisciplinary University Traditional Health Initiative (MUTHI): Training needs assessments

This EU-funded research capacity strengthening project started in January 2011, under the leadership of the University of Oslo. It aims to strengthen research capacity in African Universities for the development of herbal medicines. The other partners are the University of Bamako, the University of Makerere, The University of the Western Cape, The University of the Free State (Bloemfontein, South Africa), The University of Amsterdam, and the University of Oxford.

Part of this work is to improve capacity to conduct clinical trials of herbal medicines, and in order to do this we are conducting a training needs assessment. If you have been involved, or plan to become involved, in a clinical trial of a herbal medicine, please contact merlinwillcox@doctors.org.uk and you will be sent a questionnaire (questionnaires have already been sent to key members of the clinical group). Please return it by 25th March 2011. This will be used to plan the training which we will offer, online and in workshops, to the best candidates.

We will also conduct training needs assessments of researchers working on herbal medicines in African Universities on medical anthropology / ethnobotany, and intellectual property rights issues. If you are interested in completing a training needs assessment, please contact merlinwillcox@doctors.org.uk

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

This is being held on 8 – 12th August 2011 at the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya. For more information see: http://www.napreca.net/14symposium/

There is also a pre-symposium workshop on 1-5 August at the Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi.

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

Publication of African Herbal Pharmacopoeia

This is the output of the Association for African Medicinal Plants Standards (www.aamps.org) to which some RITAM members contributed. The aim is to develop quality control and quality assurance standards, to support the African herbal industry. It contains monographs of 50 medicinal plants. The book is available to order from http://www.earthprint.com/productfocus.php?id=AAMPS002&q=african%20herbal

Special issue of Malaria Journal on “Natural products for the control of malaria”

A special issue of “Malaria Journal” has been published. RITAM was involved in planning this issue, and many RITAM members have contributed to the articles. Thank you to everyone who contributed, and special thanks are due to Prof Hagai Ginsburg who coordinated and edited this special issue. All the articles are available for free download from http://www.malariajournal.com/supplements/10/S1

A call for using natural compounds in the development of new antimalarial treatments – an introduction
Hagai Ginsburg, Eric Deharo

How can natural products serve as a viable source of lead compounds for the development of new/novel anti-malarials?
Eric Guantai, Kelly Chibale

Natural products as starting points for future anti-malarial therapies: going back to our roots?
Timothy NC Wells

Whole plant extracts versus single compounds for the treatment of malaria: synergy and positive interactions
Philippe Rasoanaivo, Colin W Wright, Merlin L Willcox, Ben Gilbert

Analysis of additivity and synergism in the anti-plasmodial effect of purified compounds from plant extracts
Eric Deharo, Hagai Ginsburg

To what extent can traditional medicine contribute a complementary or alternative solution to malaria control programmes?
Bertrand Graz, Andrew Y Kitua, Hamisi M Malebo

Do ethnobotanical and laboratory data predict clinical safety and efficacy of anti-malarial plants?
Merlin Willcox, Françoise Benoit-Vical, Dennis Fowler, Geneviève Bourdy, Gemma Burford, Sergio Giani, Rocky Graziose, Peter Houghton, Milijaona Randrianarivelojosia, Philippe Rasoanaivo

A “reverse pharmacology” approach for developing an anti-malarial phytomedicine
Merlin L Willcox, Bertrand Graz, Jacques Falquet, Chiaka Diakite, Sergio Giani, Drissa Diallo

Traditional medicines as a mechanism for driving research innovation in Africa
Ivan Addae-Mensah, Foluke Fakorede, Andreas Holtel, Solomon Nwaka

The plant-based immunomodulator curcumin as a potential candidate for the development of an adjunctive therapy for cerebral malaria
Patrice N Mimche, Donatella Taramelli, Livia Vivas

Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing
Marta Ferreira Maia, Sarah J Moore

Recent Publications of Interest

The following are recent publications by RITAM members:

Adama Gansané, Souleymane Sanon, Lamoussa P. Ouattara, Abdoulaye Traoré, Sébastien Hutter, Evelyne Ollivier, Nadine Azas, Alfred S. Traore, Innocent P. Guissou, Sodiomon B. Sirima & Issa Nebié  (2010). Antiplasmodial activity and toxicity of crude extracts from alternatives parts of plants widely used for the treatment of malaria in Burkina Faso: contribution for their preservation. Parasitology Research 106(2):335-340

Adebayo, J. O. and A. U. Krettli (2011). “Potential antimalarials from Nigerian plants: A review.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 133(2): 289-302.

Gathirwa, J. W., G. M. Rukunga, et al. (2011). “Traditional herbal antimalarial therapy in Kilifi district, Kenya.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 134(2): 434-442.

Graz, B., J. Falquet, et al. (2010). “Ethnopharmacology, sustainable development and cooperation: The importance of gathering clinical data during field surveys.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 130(3): 635-638.

Graziose, R., T. Rathinasabapathy, et al. (2011). “Antiplasmodial activity of aporphine alkaloids and sesquiterpene lactones from Liriodendron tulipifera L.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 133(1): 26-30.

Liu, N.Q., et al., Comparative Quantitative Analysis of Artemisinin by Chromatography and qNMR. Phytochemical Analysis, 2010. www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/pca DOI: 10.1002/pca.1217

Lusakibanza, M., G. Mesia, et al. (2010). “In vitro and in vivo antimalarial and cytotoxic activity of five plants used in congolese traditional medicine.” J Ethnopharmacol 129(3): 398-402.

Mesia, K., R. K. Cimanga, et al. (2010). “Antimalarial activity and toxicity evaluation of a quantified Nauclea pobeguinii extract.” J Ethnopharmacol 131(1): 10-16.

Willcox, M. L., B. Graz, et al. (2011). “Is parasite clearance clinically important after malaria treatment in a high transmission area? A 3-month follow-up of home-based management with herbal medicine or ACT.” Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 105: 23-31.

Willcox, M. L. (in press). “Improved Traditional Phytomedicines in current use for the clinical treatment of malaria.” Planta Med.

Wright, C. W. (2010). “Recent developments in research on terrestrial plants used for the treatment of malaria.” Nat Prod Rep 27(7): 961-968.

Other publications of interest:

Abbah, J., S. Amos, et al. (2010). “Pharmacological evidence favouring the use of Nauclea latifolia in malaria ethnopharmacy: effects against nociception, inflammation, and pyrexia in rats and mice.” J Ethnopharmacol 127(1): 85-90.

Adams, M., W. Alther, et al. (2011). “Malaria in the renaissance: Remedies from European herbals from the 16th and 17th century.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 133(2): 278-288.

Al-Adhroey, A. H., Z. M. Nor, et al. (2010). “Ethnobotanical study on some Malaysian anti-malarial plants: A community based survey.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 132(1): 362-364.

Allabi, A. C., K. Busia, et al. (2011). “The use of medicinal plants in self-care in the Agonlin region of Benin.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 133(1): 234-243.

Asase, A., G. A. Akwetey, et al. (2010). “Ethnopharmacological use of herbal remedies for the treatment of malaria in the Dangme West District of Ghana.” J Ethnopharmacol 129(3): 367-376.

Chandel, S. and U. Bagai (2010). “Antiplasmodial activity of Ajuga bracteosa against Plasmodium berghei infected BALB/c mice.” Indian J Med Res 131: 440-444.

Dell’agli, M., G. V. Galli, et al. (2010). “Ellagitannins of the fruit rind of pomegranate (Punica granatum) antagonize in vitro the host inflammatory response mechanisms involved in the onset of malaria.” Malar J 9: 208.

Koudouvo, K., D. S. Karou, et al. (2011). “An ethnobotanical study of antimalarial plants in Togo Maritime Region.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 134(1): 183-190.

Lacroix, D., S. Prado, et al. (2011). “Antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of medicinal plants traditionally used in the village of Kiohima, Uganda.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 133(2): 850-855.

Lekana-Douki, J. B., J. B. Bongui, et al. (2011). “In vitro antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of nine plants traditionally used in Gabon.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 133(3): 1103-1108.

Meunier Q, Lemmens R, Morin A (2010). Alternatives to exotic species in Uganda: Growth and cultivation of 85 indigenous trees. Graphiconsult, Kampala, Uganda. ISBN: 978-9970-144-02-0

Muganga, R., L. Angenot, et al. (2010). “Antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of Rwandan medicinal plants used in the treatment of malaria.” J Ethnopharmacol 128(1): 52-57.

Maregesi, S., S. Van Miert, et al. (2010). “Screening of Tanzanian medicinal plants against Plasmodium falciparum and human immunodeficiency virus.” Planta Med 76(2): 195-201.

Nadembega, P., J. I. Boussim, et al. (2011). “Medicinal plants in Baskoure, Kourittenga Province, Burkina Faso: An ethnobotanical study.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 133(2): 378-395.

Namsa, N. D., M. Mandal, et al. (2011). “Anti-malarial herbal remedies of northeast India, Assam: An ethnobotanical survey.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 133(2): 565-572.

Nguta, J. M., J. M. Mbaria, et al. (2010). “Antimalarial herbal remedies of Msambweni, Kenya.” J Ethnopharmacol 128(2): 424-432.

Nguta, J. M., J. M. Mbaria, et al. (2010). “Traditional antimalarial phytotherapy remedies used by the South Coast community, Kenya.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 131(2): 256-267.

Pinmai, K., W. Hiriote, et al. (2010). “In vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of water extracts of Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula, and Terminalia bellerica.” J Med Assoc Thai 93 Suppl 7: S120-126.

Ramazani, A., S. Zakeri, et al. (2010). “In vitro and in vivo anti-malarial activity of Boerhavia elegans and Solanum surattense.” Malar J 9: 124.

Ruiz, L., L. Ruiz, et al. (2011). “Plants used by native Amazonian groups from the Nanay River (Peru) for the treatment of malaria.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 133(2): 917-921.

Tagarelli, G., A. Tagarelli, et al. (2010). “Folk medicine used to heal malaria in Calabria (southern Italy).” J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 6: 27.

Wangchuk, P., J. B. Bremner, et al. (2010). “Antiplasmodial activity of atisinium chloride from the Bhutanese medicinal plant, Aconitum orochryseum.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 130(3): 559-562.

New Members:

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

Margherita Alessandro, Master’s degree in Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Sciences, Rome.

Paola Camacho, Herbal Medicine student, University of Westminster, UK.

Omar GUEYE, PhD student in Biology and Human Pathology at Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal. Testing different Artemisia annua teas in vitro.

Dr Anirban Pal, Scientist, In-vivo testing facility, Molecular Bioprospection Division, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India. www.cimap.res.in

With best wishes,

Merlin Willcox

Workshop at the Osler McGovern Centre, 13 Norham Gardens, Oxford, 30^th-31^st October 2010

Download the conference Schedule and Form here

Conference Organisers:

Prof Terence Ryan, Emeritus Professor of Dermatology, University of Oxford and trustee, Global Initiative for Traditional Systems(GIFTS) of Health

Dr Hans-Martin Hirt, Chair and Founder of ANAMED

Dr Merlin Willcox, Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford and trustee, GIFTS of Health

This workshop is organised on behalf of the Task force for Skin Care for ALL: Community Dermatology which is a leading project of the International Society of Dermatology.

Dr Ousmane Faye is sponsored by the St Francis Leprosy Guild. Dr Babara Turay is sponsored by the International Society of Dermatology.

Throughout the meeting there will be an Exhibition of Traditional Health and documents such as the WHO Global Atlas Of Traditional Complementary And Alternative Medicine, The WHO Wounds And Lymphoedema guidelines, Publications from UNAIDS, GIFTS, and ANAMED.

Day 1 (30^th Oct)

Benefits and Capacity of collaboration between modern and traditional medical systems to improve skin care: policy implications

Session 1: Introductions and Objectives

9.30 Introductions of participants

Facilitated by Dr Simon Challand, Anamed

10.00 – 10.30 Opening Keynote lecture: Objectives of Workshop.

Prof Terence Ryan, Emeritus Professor of Dermatology, University of Oxford

To describe objectives of the workshop:

- Description of Task force for Skin Care for all

- Publication of Guidelines for the Carer of the skin‚Äö?Ñ?¥s collaboration with Traditional Healers,

- Updating the publications of ANAMED

- To collate known benefits of collaboration with Traditional Healers. This will be modelled on already published documentation of collaboration with traditional Healers in response to HIV/AIDS in a UNAIDS Best Practice Collection.

10.30 – 10.45: Questions and discussion

10.45 – 11.00: Coffee break

Session 2: Benefits of working with traditional healers

11.00 – 11.30 Missing patients: the need to work with traditional healers

Dr Ousmane Faye,MD PhD,CNAM ex Institut Marchoux ,Bamako, Mali

11.30 – 12.00 Models of collaboration: successes and lessons.

Prof Gerry Bodeker, Chairman, Global Initiative for Traditional Systems of Health

12.00 – 12.30 Collaboration between dermatology and herbal medicine: Experience and audit at Whipps Cross Hospital, London

Dr Anthony Bewley, Consultant dermatologist, Whipps Cross Hospital, London

Alex Laird, Medical Herbalist, Whipps Cross Hospital, London

12.30 – 13.00: Plenary Discussion: collating the benefits of working with traditional healers

Facilitated by Prof Gerry Bodeker

13.00 – 14.00: Lunch

Session 3: How to work with traditional healers?

14.00 – 14.30: How to work with Traditional Healers

Dr Babara Turay, Ethnobotanist, Chief Pharmacist and Advisor, Traditional Healers Associations of Sierra Leone

14.30 – 15.00: Training traditional healers as skin care workers

Prof Henning Grossmann, Regional Dermatology Training Centre, KCMC, Tanzania

15.00 – 15.30: Experience of teaching natural medicine to Traditional Healers and Health Workers.

Dr Hans-Martin Hirt, Chairman and Founder, ANAMED

15.30 – 15.45: Tea break

15.45 – 16.00: Documentation of Maasai traditional remedies

Gemma Burford, Aang Serian and GIFTS of Health

16.00 – 16.15: Working with traditional healers in the management of snake bites

Dr Alexander Kumar, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK

16.15 – 17.15: Workshop: to develop guidelines for collaboration between skin carers and traditional healers, culminating in a Conclusion and Mission Statement

Facilitated by Dr Merlin Willcox

Including discussion about conservation of medicinal plants: Professor Jeff Burley, Dept of Plant Sciences, Oxford University

Day 2 (October 31st)

Developing integrated clinical guidelines for care of skin diseases

Objective: To improve practical clinical guidelines for the management of common skin complaints, integrating modern and traditional / natural approaches. One purpose at the request of Anamed is to suggest some principles to be added to their “Natural Medicine in the Tropics- series.

Session 1: Diagnosis of common skin diseases

09.00 – 09.30: Diagnostic Biomedical algorithms for common skin diseases as used in Mexico, Ethiopia and Mali.

Prof Terence Ryan

09.30 – 09.45: Diagnostic processes used by Traditional Healers for management of skin diseases

Speaker to be confirmed

09.45 – 10.15: Workshop: How to integrate modern and traditional approaches to diagnosis, to enable correct management?

Facilitator: Dr Simon Challand with discussion by Dr Rod Hay.

Output: simple diagnostic guidelines / algorithms which can be used by modern, traditional and natural practitioners.

10.15 – 10.45: The problem of skin lightening

Facilitated by Dr Ousmane Faye MD PhD CNAM ex Institut Marchoux, Bamako, Mali

To include discussion of the role of traditional healers in the campaign against harmful skin lightening creams

10.45 – 11.00: Coffee Break

Session 2: Wound healing

11.00 – 11.15: Basic principles of Wound Healing, and WHO / WAWLC guidelines

Prof Terence Ryan

11.15 – 11.30: Anamed guidelines on wound healing

Dr Hans-Martin Hirt, Anamed

11.30 – 11.45: Research Techniques in the Laboratory used in the assessment of herbal wound-healing agents

Dr Margaret Hughes, Oxford International Wound Healing Foundation.

11.45 – 12.45: Discussion: how to integrate / improve WHO/WAWLC / Anamed guidelines on wound healing so that they can be used by all health care practitioners (traditional and modern)?

Facilitator: Dr Merlin Willcox

12.45 – 13.45 Lunch

Session 3: Management of infectious skin diseases: Scabies, fungal, bacterial and AIDS-related skin disorders

13.45 – 14.30: Biomedical guidelines for management of scabies,fungal, bacterial and HIV/AIDS-related skin infections must be a consequence of assessment of needs. Prospect for elimination scabies

Dr Roderick Hay, Chairman, International Foundation for Dermatology

14.30 – 15.10: Anamed recommendations for use of herbal medicines for management of fungal, bacterial and HIV/AIDS-related skin infections

Dr Hans-Martin Hirt, Anamed

15.10 – 16.00: Discussion: Developing Anamed integrated guidelines for management of skin infections (scabies, fungal, bacterial, and AIDS-related)

Facilitator: Dr Simon Challand

16.00 – 16.15: Tea break

Session 4: Management of important non-infectious skin diseases in developing countries: dermatitis, cancers, snake bites

16.15 – 16.30: Case of need and Guidelines for management of non-infectious skin diseases in developing countries.

Henning Grossmann, Immediate past Director, Regional Dermatology Training Centre, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.

16.30 – 16.40: What can herbal medicine offer for non-infectious skin diseases?

Alex Laird, Medical Herbalist, Dept of Dermatology, Whipps Cross Hospital

16.40 – 16.50: Traditional management of snake bites

Dr Hans-Martin Hirt, Anamed

16.50 – 17.15: Developing integrated guidelines for management of non-infectious skin diseases

Facilitator: Dr Carsten Flohr, NIHR/DH Clinician Scientist, Senior Lecturer &
Honorary Consultant Dermatologist, St John Institute of Dermatology, London

Session 5: Closing session

17.15 – 17.30: Discussion: Recommendations from this workshop.

Facilitators: Dr Hans-Martin Hirt, Anamed, and Prof Terence Ryan, Chairman, Taskforce for Skin Care for All.

Registration Form

Collaboration With Traditional Healers in the Provision Of Skin Care For All In Africa

Workshop at the Osler McGovern Centre, 13 Norham Gardens, Oxford, 30^th-31^st October 2010

Registration fees (to include the conference materials, tea/coffee and lunch)

Both days: £80 ; Single day: £50

Students / concessions: 50% discount

If you include a donation of £5 or more on top of your registration fee we can reclaim the tax by Giftaid (if you are a UK taxpayer)

Please pay by cheque, payable to “GIFTS of Health-, or cash at the door. We regret we cannot accept card payments.

Please find enclosed a cheque for £______ as my registration fee for the conference on 30^th/31^st October (delete as appropriate)

This includes a donation of £ ____ to the work of GIFTS of Health

[ ] I am a UK taxpayer. Please treat all donations I make to GIFTS of Health as Gift Aid donations, until further notice. I am aware that the amount of tax reclaimed by GIFTS of Health (20%) must not exceed the amount of income or capital gains that I pay in a year.

Signature: __________________________________ Date: __________________

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I agree to my name, title, institution, e-mail and address being circulated as part of the attendance list (delete as appropriate)

Please return this form with your payment to GIFTS of Health, 66 Lye Valley, Oxford OX3 7ER, UK

1. RITAM celebrates its 10th birthday

RITAM held its inaugural conference in Moshi, Tanzania, in December 1999. We are now 10 years old! Since the initial inauguration we have received no external funding, so it is a great tribute to the members of RITAM that we have kept going and achieved so much.

Our achievements over the last 10 years include:

1. Writing systematic reviews of the existing literature on herbal antimalarials and plants for vector control
2. Producing guidelines for studies on herbal antimalarials
3. Publication of “Traditional Medicinal Plants and Malaria”
4. Many successful partnerships and collaborations

We would like to thank all RITAM members for their continued support and input.

2. RITAM subscriptions

In order to keep going sustainably, RITAM does need to raise some funds to cover costs such as the website (for which payment is now overdue). Our bank account is now completely empty. Until now membership of RITAM has been free to all. We are committed to maintain free membership for members from developing countries and for those on low incomes. However we would like to invite members from developed countries, and those on sufficient incomes, to contribute a subscription fee. We suggest initially an amount of £20 / 25 Euros per year, but feel free to give more or less according to your situation. If you are a UK taxpayer you can give by giftaid. We are in the process of setting up a website for donating online, and will update you when this is ready. Meanwhile members in the UK can pay by cheque payable to “GIFTS of Health Malaria conference”.

3. “The Killing Season” Screening, Weds 10th March, 7.30pm

Mark Honigsbaum, author of “The Fever Trail” has recently produced a new film about ACTs and artemisinin called “The Killing Season”. It is being screened at Worcester College Oxford (Lecture room B) at 7.30pm on Weds 10th March. You can watch the trailer on Youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eKCNDEb4vQ

In theory, malaria is easily treated with ACTs. But in Uganda as in other parts of Africa and Asia the drugs are not getting to hospitals and clinics in time, resulting in scores of needless deaths. Focussing on the humanitarian crisis in Madi Opei, a former rebel stronghold in northern Uganda, ‘The Killing Season’ follows the head of the Medecins Sans Frontieres mission to Uganda as he investigates the countrywide stockouts of ACTs. Mark Honigsbaum is a journalist and author specializing in the history and science of infectious disease. The Killing Season is a 45-minute feature produced by Uproar Productions.

4. Workshop on Artemisia annua in Oxford, 13th March

Green Templeton College at the University of Oxford is hosting a one-day workshop on Saturday 13th March on Artemisia annua for the treatment of malaria, organised by Dr Elisabeth Hsu (Reader in Medical Anthropology) together with Dr Merlin Willcox (RITAM) and Dr Keith Lindsey (Anamed). We will review the state of current research and discuss implications for NGO programmes on Artemisia annua.

Attendance is free of charge as catering has kindly been sponsored by the Department of Primary Health Care at the University of Oxford. However if you wish to attend please reserve a place by contacting merlinwillcox@doctors.org.uk

5. Liverpool Workshop, 18th March

Anamed in collaboration with RITAM is also holding a workshop for students of the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine on Thursday 18th March, at 4-7pm.

6. Conference on Artemisia annua in Rome, 23rd April

ICEI (http://www.icei.info/) is organising a one-day conference in Rome on “Fighting malaria in Africa and Artemisia annua L. infusion”, on 23rd April.

7. International Society of Ethnopharmacology (ISE) meeting, 20-25 Sept.

RITAM chairman Gerry Bodeker will chair a session on “Global Health and Ethnopharmacology” at this international conference in Albacete, Spain. For more information see www.ISE2010.org

8.Report from the 5th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, 2-6 Nov 2009

Many RITAM members old and new attended this conference which had over 1000 delegates, at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

RITAM organised a symposium on “Priorities for future research on traditional medicines and malaria” which was attended by over 60 delegates. Prof Gerry Bodeker opened the symposium with a talk about plants for prophylaxis of malaria. He spoke about projects in India organised by the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (http://www.frlht.org/ ). Dr Prakash of FRLHT followed up with more details about their research on Ayurvedic remedies for the prevention of malaria.

There followed two presentations on Artemisia annua. Mrs Rosalia Oyweka, a project partner of Anamed in Kisumu, Kenya, presented her grassroots experiences of the Local use of Artemisia annua for the treatment of malaria, and where she saw the needs for research to answer practical questions about the cultivation of the plant. Dr Dirk Rezelman, Chair of the Equator Foundation, presented his latest research on the pharmacokinetics of an ethanolic extract of Artemisia annua suspended in peanut oil (http://artemisia-for-all.org/ ). This has much better bioavailability than even pure artemsinin.

Mrs Gemma Burford, founder of Aang Serian in Tanzania, spoke about her projects involving school students in ethnobotanical research, through training them in basic anthropological methods. Dr Merlin Willcox briefly presented a scoring system devised by RITAM members for the prioritisation of antimalarial plants for future research according to frequency and quality of citation in the ethnobotanical literature, and the results of any published pharmacological studies.

Dr Moussa Dicko, from the Departement of Traditional Medicine in, Bamako, Mali, presented a study on prior use of Traditional medicines by patients with severe malaria in Mali, showing that this had no adverse effect on outcomes. Dr Merlin Willcox then presented a summary of a project to develop a traditional antimalarial for use in malaria control programmes: Argemone mexicana in Mali.

We were privileged to have as our final speaker Professor Ogobara Doumbo (Director of MRTC, Bamako, Mali). He presented his perspectives as a malaria expert and as the son of a traditional healer. He recommended better integration of traditional healers in the health system, and better communication with healers. He also recommended that Western medicine should learn from the ethical approach of traditional healers.

We then held three small groups to discuss priorities for future research on preclinical studies, clinical studies, and prevention of malaria. These groups all made recommendations which are in the attached document.
Throughout the conference there were several presentations relevant to traditional medicine, and there were 20 posters on herbal antimalarials. Most reported on studies of herbal extracts in vitro and in vivo. However there were also four clinical trials and three posters on Artemisia annua.

On the final day RITAM members were among those invited to a joint EU / TDR / ANDi workshop on “Improved Tools for the Elimination of Malaria in Africa: Research for New Drugs and Innovative Diagnostics”. Part of the discussion centred around approaches to traditional medicines for malaria, and whether they should be developed as phytomedicines, natural products or both. RITAM provided a written response to the consultation which was signed by 31 members from 10 African and 6 European countries. The final consensus document prepared by the organisers concluded that “A clearly defined process for traditional medicines and natural products research is urgently needed if this discipline is to advance and result in products of acceptable quality, efficacy and toxicity profiles. It is important that such medicines are given the same scrutiny as any other pharmaceutical to ensure the protection of patients from any major adverse event and also to ensure the benefits from optimal efficacy. Concerted efforts should also be made to evaluate and develop the use of traditional medicines or natural products in vector control.”

9. Recent Publications of Interest

The following are recent publications by RITAM members:

Fabrice Fekam Boyom, Eugenie Madiesse Kemgne, Roselyne Tepongning,Wilfred Fon Mbacham, Etienne Tsamo, Paul Henri Amvam Zollo, Jiri Gut, Philip J. Rosenthal. Antiplasmodial activity of extracts from seven medicinal plants used in malaria treatment in Cameroon. J. Ethnopharmacol 123, 483-488 (2009)
Graz B, Willcox ML, Diakite C, Falquet J, Dackuo F, Sidibe O, Giani S, Diallo D (2010). Argemone mexicana decoction versus Artesunate / Amodiaquine for the home-based management of malaria in Mali. Policy and public health implications. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 104:33-41.

Hsu E. Diverse Biologies and Experiential Continuities: did the Ancient Chinese know that Qinghao had Anti-malarial Properties? In F. Wallis (ed) Medicine and the Soul of Science: Essays by and in Memory of Don Bates. Special Issue. Canadian Bulletin of Medical History 26 (1): 203-213.

Hsu E. Chinese Propriety Medicines: an Alternative Modernity? The Case of the Anti-malarial Substance Artemisinin in East Africa. In E. Hsu & G Stollberg (eds) Globalizing Chinese medicine. Special Issue. Medical Anthropology: Cross-Cultural Studies in Health and Illness 28 (2): 111-140.

Dell’agli M, Galli GV, Corbett Y, Taramelli D, Lucantoni L, Habluetzel A, Maschi O, Caruso D, Giavarini F, Romeo S, Bhattacharya D, Bosisio E. Antiplasmodial activity of Punica granatum L. fruit rind. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 125(2): 279-285.

Habluetzel A, Lucantoni L, Esposito F. Azadirachta indica as a public health tool for the control of malaria & other vector-borne diseases. Indian J Med Res. 2009 130(2): 112-114.

Colin W. Wright, Peter A. Linley, Reto Brun, Sergio Wittlin and Elisabeth Hsu (2010). Ancient Chinese Methods Are Remarkably Effective for the Preparation of Artemisinin-Rich Extracts of Qing Hao with
Potent Antimalarial Activity. Molecules 2010, 15, 804-812. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/2/804/pdf

10.Obituary: Nina Etkin

It is with great sadness that we inform members of the death of Nina Etkin, former Professor of Anthropology at the University of Hawai. Nina was one of the first members of RITAM and attended our inaugural meeting in Moshi in 1999 where she spoke about “Ethnomedical approaches in the study of indigenous antimalarials”, and about the prophylactic use of herbs. Her own detailed ethnographic research with the Hausa in Nigeria showed how certain food plants also have antimalarial properties and are eaten preferentially in the malaria season. She was the lead author of the RITAM guidelines for ethnobotanical studies on herbal antimalarials. We will greatly miss her.

11.Obituary: Monik Adriaens

We were very sad to learn recently of the tragic and untimely death of Monik Adriaens, Director of Tooro Botanical Gardens and research technical officer with the Sustainable Agriculture Trainers Network (SATNET) in Western Uganda.

Monik was involved in various many development projects including projects to fight against malaria. Notably she authored the book “Family Medicinal Plant Gardens in the Rwenzori Region”, and locally promoted the use of Artemisia annua. A full obituary is published at http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/25/624640

12.New Members:

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

Dr Ayoade Abdulfatai Adesokan, Senior Lecturer and Head, Medical Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

Aisha A. El-Awady, Lecturer in Parasitology, School of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.

Dr Fabrice Fekam Boyom, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaound, Cameroon

Balogun Sikiru Olaitan, Lecturer (biochemistry), Kampala International University, Western Campus, Uganda

B.S. Chandrashekar B.S, Scientist, Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore, India

Dr Rosine Désirée Chougouo Kengne, Pharmacist, l’Universite des Montagnes, Cameroun.

Dr Jean Bernard LEKANA-DOUKI, Senior Lecturer, University of Health Sciences – International Center of Medical Research of Franceville, Libreville, Gabon. Working on Gabonese medicinal plants.

Dr Leonardo Lucantoni, post-doc fellow, Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Italy

Dr Joao Soares Martins, Former Dean Faculty of Public Health, Universidade da Paz, Dili, Timor-Leste.

Tanayen Julius Kihdze, Lecturer (Pharmacology and Toxicology), Kampala International University, Western Campus, Uganda

Dr Sylvin OUEDRAOGO, Senior research scientist, CNRST/IRSS/Médecine Pharmacopée Traditionnelles, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Also Secretary of WANNPRES.

Miss Woquan Sama, Lecturer, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharamacy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Mrs Cyril-Olutayo C. Mojisola, Lecturer Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State, Nigeria.

With best wishes,

Merlin Willcox

Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

This is the most important global malaria conference. For general information on the conference see: www.mimalaria.org/pamc

RITAM is organising a symposium within this conference, to be held on 2nd November 2009, 10.45 – 13.15, on -Priorities for future research on traditional medicines and malaria-. If you are attending the MIM conference please be sure to come to our symposium! We will identify and discuss priorities for future work, and produce recommendations to be fed back to the EU, which hopefully may serve as suggestions for future calls for proposals. In particular we will discuss possible research on plant-based prophylactics for malaria; the use of Artemisia annua in herbal preparations; collaboration with traditional healers for the management of severe malaria; and development of herbal medicines for use in national malarial control programmes. Speakers will talk for about 10 minutes, which will allow plenty of time for interaction and participative development of recommendations.

Prof Gerry Bodeker, Oxford University, UK and Chair, RITAM.

Plants for prophylaxis? Directions for future research

Prof Ahmed Hassanali, ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya

Research priorities on local plants for malaria vector control

Rosalia Oyweka, Anamed, Kisumu, Kenya

Local use of Artemisia annua for the treatment of malaria: experiences and challenges

Dr Dirk Rezelman, Chair of the Equator Foundation, The Netherlands

COMBAT: COMBined Artemisia Therapy for the treatment of malaria

Mrs Gemma Burford, Founder, Aang Serian, Arusha, Tanzania

Involving school students in ethnobotanical research

Dr Moussa Dicko, Departement de Medecine Traditionnelle, Bamako, Mali

Traditional medicines and severe malaria in Mali

Dr Merlin Willcox, RITAM and Antenna Technologies

Development of a traditional antimalarial for use in malaria control programmes: Argemone mexicana in Mali

Perspectives of a malaria expert

Professor Ogobara Doumbo, MRTC, Bamako, Mali

2. Recent Publications of Interest

The following are recent publications by RITAM members:

N. Cachet, F. Hoakwie, S. Bertani, G. Bourdy, E. Deharo, D. Stien, E. Houel, H. Gornitzka, J. Fillaux, S. Chevalley, A. Valentin, and V. Jullian (2009). Antimalarial Activity of Simalikalactone E, a New Quassinoid from Quassia amara L. (Simaroubaceae). ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 53(10): 4393-4398.

Bertrand Graz, Merlin L. Willcox, Chiaka Diakite, Jacques Falquet, Florent Dackuo, Oumar Sidibe, Sergio Giani, Drissa Diallo (in press). Argemone mexicana decoction versus artesunate-amodiaquine for the management of malaria in Mali: policy and public-health implications. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg.
In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 5 September 2009.

S. Lapenna, M.C. Bergonzi, F.F. Vincieri, A.R. Bilia. Comparative analysis of antimalarial principles in Artemisia annua L. herbal drugs from East Africa Nat. Prod. Commun (2008) 3 , 2003-2006.

These are other publications of interest:

Medicinal Plants in Conservation and Development. A report from Plantlife, available online at:

http://www.plantlife.org.uk/international/plantlife-med-plants.htm – click on the link for -new report published-.

This includes interesting information about a project in Uganda for conservation of antimalarial plants. Further information on this project is also available on the website at: http://www.plantlife.org.uk/international/plantlife-med-plants-projects-allachy-Uganda.htm

Angel Dillip et al. (2009). Socio-cultural factors explaining timely and appropriate use of health facilities for degedege in south-eastern Tanzania. Malaria Journal 8:144 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-144

“Artemisia annua, Artemisinin, ACTs and Malaria Control in Africa: The Interplay of Tradition, Science and Public Policy” has been posted on the Medicines for Malaria Venture website under “Artemisinin: Reports and Publications” www.mmv.org/article.php3?id_article=461

3. New Members:

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

Prof Ana Rita Bilia, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy. Has worked on constituents of Artemisia annua from different origins, the analyses of A. annua plants at different development stages and of different extracts including infusions and decoctions.

Dr Verena Brand, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Structural Genomics Consortium Toronto, Canada.

Mr. Soniran Olajoju Temidayo, Teacher and Post graduate student, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

With best wishes,

Merlin Willcox

Artemisia annua meeting in Rome

A one-day workshop on the use of Artemisia annua herbal preparations for treating malaria was organised in Rome on 13th March 2009 by the Italian NGO ICEI (Instituto Cooperazione Economica Internazionale). RITAM was invited to participate. Pedro Melillo presented updates on his research on Artemisia annua and Merlin Willcox presented a systematic review of clinical trials on the efficacy of herbal Artemisia annua preparations. ICEI is funding a series of clinical trials of standardised Artemisia annua tea, cultivated and packaged by Pedro in Brazil. One trial in Mozambique has already given promising results. Further trials are planned in Brazil, Senegal, Gambia, Cameroon, Rwanda and Burundi.

Prof Bilia from the University of Florence presented a series of interesting in vitro studies suggesting that the effect of Artemisia annua could be potentiated by a number of other plants including green tea, olive leaves and pawpaw leaves. Dirk Rezelmann also presented interesting results from a new formulation of dried Artemisia annua, extracted with ethanol and then mixed with peanut oil to make a liquid medicine palatable for children. Absorption from this seems to be much better than from teas, and 5ml of the mixture contains 100mg of artemisinin. Dr Rezelman plans to mix this with amodiaquine to make a -COMBined Artemesia Therapy- (-COMBAT-) which will be cheaper than the conventional artesunate-amodiaquine and can be produced locally. He hopes to start clinical trials in the Gambia soon. For more information see: www.artemisia-for-all.org

There was a useful debate on how to move forward, when it was suggested that one approach, based on current evidence, would be to use Artemisia annua tea to treat semi-immune adults with uncomplicated malaria in high-transmission areas, so sparing the expensive and precious Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs) for children who are most at risk. No clinical trials have yet been done of Artemisia annua teas for treating malaria in African children, so they cannot yet be recommended in this age group.

Tropical Medicine and Artemisia workshop in Luxembourg

The Luxembourg NGO -IFBV- (Iwerliewen fir bedreete Volleker) organised a 2-day workshop on Appropriate Technology and Malaria control, with the support of their local government and rotary clubs, on 6-7 April 2009 (see http://www.iwerliewen.org ). They are promoting a two-pronged approach of indoor residual spraying with DDT for malaria prevention, coupled with cultivation and use of Artemisia annua tea for malaria treatment. They are implementing this in several areas including Congo-Kinshasa, Senegal, and Peru. Pedro Melillo, Dirk Rezelman and Merlin Willcox were among the speakers invited to give updates on their work (as above). Among the possible ways forward we discussed the possibility of trying a combination of Artemisia annua with Curcuma longa (in view of promising in vitro results from India showing synergy between artemisinin and curcumin).

The 5th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, 2-6 November 2009

Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

This is the most important global malaria conference, and RITAM has organised a symposium at the previous two conferences in this series (Arusha in 2002, and Yaounde in 2005). We have applied to hold a symposium on traditional medicine and malaria this year, and hope to receive a positive reply soon. If you are planning to attend this conference and would like to contribute to the RITAM symposium, please contact Merlin Willcox (merlinwillcox@doctors.org.uk).

For further general information on the conference see: www.mimalaria.org/pamc

EU funding?

A working group has continued to explore the possibility of EU funding for some of our projects. Christian Gronoff and Merlin Willcox have been to visit the European Commission Directorate for Research in Brussels, in February and April this year. We met with Dr Andreas Holtel, who is in charge of malaria research. There are no imminent calls on traditional medicine, although there will be a call this year on vector control which may be of interest to our Vector Control group. Future calls will be inspired by the outcome of conferences such as MIM (above) which is why it is very important for RITAM to have a strong presence there. Another approach would be to present a project on health systems research, and collaboration between traditional and modern medical systems (in general, not only for malaria).

Obituary of Prof Chris Curtis

It is with deep regret that we inform you of the passing of Professor Chris Curtis, a Medical Entomologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). A longstanding pioneer and advocate of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) and other appropriate technologies for mosquito vector control in Africa, Professor Curtis is particularly remembered for his tireless dedication not only to research but also to supervising tens of postgraduate students and mentoring many who are leading the anti-vector battle across the continent. He was one of the delegates at our inaugural RITAM conference in 1999, and has since provided invaluable advice and support on plant-based vector control agents and repellents. He helped to edit the chapters on these subjects in the RITAM book. He also helped to develop -Mosiguard-, a highly effect insect repellent based on Eucalyptus citriodora.

From LSHTM’s Director, Professor Sir Andrew Haines:

-Chris was one of the world’s leading medical entomologists. He made enormous contributions to the science and application of vector control and his pioneering studies have laid the foundation for many of the current approaches to controlling malaria. Equally importantly, he was a tireless educator who has inspired generations of students all over the world.

-During Chris’s short illness, messages of goodwill have been flooding in from colleagues and students all over the world. The huge volume of these messages, and the depth of feeling that they express, shows that there is a remarkably large community of people, scattered over the world, whose work and lives have been given lasting inspiration by Chris’s gentleness, integrity, generosity and commitment. Our thoughts are with Jill and his family at this time.-

Obituary of Nyine Bitahwa

It is with equal sadness that we learnt of the passing of Nyine Bitahwa, founder and director of the Rukararwe Partnership for Rural Development in Uganda. This is a pioneering centre which has brought together many traditional healers into a collective organisation, to pool their knowledge and collaborate with a scientific diagnostic laboratory. Nyine was involved in RITAM from its embryonic stage, when he hosted Merlin Willcox during his research in Uganda in 1998. At that time Nyine was a Member of the Ugandan Parliament, and a vocal supporter of research and development of traditional medicine. Before his death he had been working as the Ugandan Ambassador in Germany. He is survived by his wife, Astrid, and two daughers, Frida and Leandra. We express our deep sympathy to them. Nyine’s work will continue at Rukararwe, and through RITAM.

Malaria prophylaxis?

The holiday season is approaching, and as every year, RITAM is receiving a number of queries on herbal prophylactics for prevention of malaria in travellers. We have produced an information sheet on this subject which will be posted on the RITAM website. If you would like to contribute comments or suggestions on this leaflet please contact merlinwillcox@doctors.org.uk

We are still keen to push forward with research on a number of promising herbal prophylactics – but none of them yet has sufficient evidence to be recommended to the public for prevention of malaria.

Recent Publications of Interest

The following are recent publications by RITAM members:
E. O. Ajaiyeoba, J. S. Ashidi, L. C. Okpako, P. J. Houghton and C. W. Wright (2008). Antiplasmodial Compounds from Cassia siamea Stem Bark Extract. Phytother. Res. 22, 254-255.

G. Bourdy, M.L. Willcox, H. Ginsburg, Ph. Rasoanaivo, B. Graz, E. Deharo (2008). Ethnopharmacology and malaria: New hypothetical leads or old efficient antimalarials? International Journal for Parasitology 38: 33-41.

Graz B, Dicko M, Willcox ML et al (2008). Sublingual sugar for hypoglycaemia in children with severe malaria : a pilot clinical study. Malaria Journal 7:242. Available online at: http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/242

Muschietti LV et al (2008). In vitro antimalarial activity of Ambrosia tenuifolia and A. scabra essential oils against the chloroquine sensitive (F32) and the chloroquine resistant (W2) strains against Plasmodium falciparum. Natural Product Communications 3 (4): 557-562.

M. Traoré,  A. Diallo,  J. B. Nikièma, H. Tinto, Z. P. Dakuyo, J. B. Ouédraogo, I. P. Guissou5 and T. R. Guiguemdé (2008). In Vitro and In Vivo Antiplasmodial Activity of ‘Saye’, An Herbal Remedy Used in Burkina Faso Traditional Medicine. Phytother. Res. 22, 550–551.

Patrice Njomnang Soh, Benoît Witkowski, David Olagnier, Marie-Laure Nicolau, Maria-Concepcion Garcia-Alvarez, Antoine Berry, Françoise Benoit-Vical (2009). In vitro and in vivo properties of ellagic acid in malaria. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 53: 1100- 1106.

Karioti A, Skaltsa H, Linden A, Perozzo R, Brun R, Tasdemir D (2007). Anthecularin: A Novel Sesquiterpene Lactone from Anthemis auriculata with Antiprotozoal Activity. ). J. Org. Chem. 72: 8103-8106.

Tasdemir D, Topaloglu B, Perozzo R, Brun R, O’Neill R, Carballeira NM, Zhang X, Tonge P, Lindeng A, Ruedig P (2007). Marine natural products from the Turkish sponge Agelas oroides that inhibit the enoyl reductases from Plasmodium falciparum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Escherichia coli. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 15: 6834–6845

Kirmizibekmez H. Somayeh Esmaeili, Farzaneh Naghibi, Mahmoud Mosaddegh, Shamim Sahranavard, Saeideh Ghafari, Noor Rain Abdullah (2009). Screening of antiplasmodial properties among some traditionally used Iranian plants. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 121 (2009) 400-404.

Willcox ML (2009). Artemisia species : from traditional antimalarials to modern medicines – and back again. J Alt Comp Med. 15(2): 101-109.

Willcox ML, Sanogo F, Graz B, Forster M, Dackuo F, Sidibe O, Falquet J, Giani S, Diakite C, Diallo D (2009). Rapid Diagnostic Tests for the Home-based Management of Malaria in a high transmission area. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 103 (1): 3-16.

Willcox ML, Rasoanaivo P (2008). Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial of Strychnos myrtoides extract for reversal of chloroquine resistance. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg. 102 : 1165-6.

These are other publications of interest:

A. Abdul Rahuman, Geetha Gopalakrishnan, P. Venkatesan, Kannappan Geetha and A. Bagavan (2008). Mosquito Larvicidal Activity of Isolated Compounds from the Rhizome of Zingiber officinale. Phytother. Res. 22, 1035-1039

Atemnkeng MA, Chimanuka B, Dejaegher B, Heyden YV, Plaizier-Vercammen J (2009). Evaluation of Artemisia annua infusion efficacy for the treatment of malaria in Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi infected mice. Exp Parasitol. 2009 Apr 14. [Epub ahead of print]

Ademar A. da Silva Filho, Eveline S. Costa, Wilson R. Cunha, M?¬?rcio L. A. e Silva, N. P. Dhammika Nanayakkara and Jairo K. Bastos (2008). Activities of Tetrahydrofuran Lignans isolated from Nectandra megapotamica (Lauraceae). Phytother. Res. 22, 1307-1310.

Christoph H Blanke, Godson B Naisabha, Mussa B Balema, Godfrey M Mbaruku, Lutz Heide, Markus S M?¬?ller (2008). Herba Artemisiae annuae tea preparation compared to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in adults: a randomized double-blind clinical trial. TROPICAL DOCTOR 2008; 38: 113-116.

Sanne de Ridder, Frank van der Kooy, Robert Verpoorte (2008). Artemisia annua as a self-reliant treatment for malaria in developing countries. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 120: 302-314

Virendra K. Dua1, Gaurav Verma1, A. P. Dash (2009). In Vitro Antiprotozoal Activity of Some

Xanthones Isolated from the Roots of Andrographis paniculata. Phytother. Res. 23, 126-128.

Liza S. Fernandez, Michael F. Jobling, Katherine T. Andrews, Vicky M. Avery (2008). Antimalarial Activity of Natural Product Extracts from Papua New Guinean and Australian Plants against Plasmodium falciparum. Phytother. Res. 22, 1409-1412.

Gianotti RL, Bomblies A, Dafalla M, Issa-Arzika I, Duchemin JB, Eltahir EA. Efficacy of local neem extracts for sustainable malaria vector control in an African village. Malar J. 2008 Jul 23;7(1):138.

Tom Erik Gronhaug, Silje Glaeserud, Mona Skogsrud, Ngolo Ballo, Sekou Bah, Drissa Diallo, Berit Smestad Paulsen (2008). Ethnopharmacological survey of six medicinal plants from Mali, West-Africa. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 4:26

Yanpeng Hou, Shugeng Cao, Peggy J. Brodie, Martin W. Callmander, Fidisoa Ratovoson, Etienne A. Rakotobe, Vincent E. Rasamison, Michel Ratsimbason, John N. Alumasa, Paul D. Roepe, David G.I. Kingston (2009). Antiproliferative and antimalarial anthraquinones of Scutia myrtina from the Madagascar forest. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 17(7): pp 2871-2876

M.C. Jonville, H. Kodjab, L. Humeaub, J. Fournelb, P. De Molc, M. Caoa, L. Angenot a, M. Fr?©d?©rich (2008). Screening of medicinal plants from Reunion Island for antimalarial and cytotoxic activity. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 120 (2008) 382-386

Karunamoorthi K, Mulelam A, Wassie F. Laboratory evaluation of traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants against Anopheles arabiensis, the predominant malaria vector in Ethiopia. Parasitol Res. 2008 May 21. [Epub ahead of print]

Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi, Adane Mulelam, FentahunWassie (2009). Assessment of knowledge and usage custom of traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants in Addis Zemen Town, South Gonder, NorthWestern Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 121 (2009) 49-53

Eliningaya J Kweka, Franklin Mosha, Asanterabi Lowassa et al (2008). Ethnobotanical study of some of mosquito repellent plants in north-eastern Tanzania. Malaria Journal 2008, 7:152

Kirti Mishra, Aditya P Dash, Bijay K Swain and Nrisingha Dey (2009). Anti-malarial activities of Andrographis paniculata and Hedyotis corymbosa extracts and their combination with curcumin. Malaria Journal 8:26

Mahmood Reza Moein, Rahul S. Pawar, Shabana I. Khan, Babu L. Tekwani and

Ikhlas A. Khan (2008). Antileishmanial, Antiplasmodial and Cytotoxic

Activities of 12,16-Dideoxy aegyptinone B from Zhumeria majdae Rech.f. & Wendelbo. Phytother. Res. 22, 283-285.

S. Senthil Nathan, A. Hisham, G. Jayakumar (2008). Larvicidal and growth inhibition of the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi by triterpenes from Dysoxylum malabaricum and Dysoxylum beddomei. Fitoterapia 79: 106-111.

Jude E. Okokon, Paul A. Nwafor (2009). Antiplasmodial activity of root extract and fractions of Croton zambesicus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 121 (2009) 74-78

Pillay P, Maharaj VJ, Smith PJ (2008). Investigating South African plants as a source of new antimalarial drugs. J Ethnopharm 119 (2008) 438-454.

G.M. Rukunga, F.W. Muregi, S.A. Omar, J.W. Gathirwa, C.N. Muthaura, M.G. Peter, M. Heydenreich, G.M. Mungai (2008). Anti-plasmodial activity of the extracts and two sesquiterpenes from Cyperus articulatus. Fitoterapia 79 (2008) 188-190

G.M. Rukunga, J.W. Gathirwa, S.A. Omar, F.W. Muregi, C.N. Muthaura, P.G. Kirira, G.M. Mungai, W.M. Kofi-Tsekpo (2009). Anti-plasmodial activity of the extracts of some Kenyan medicinal plants. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 121: 282-285.

F. Van der Kooy, R. Verpoorte, J.J. Marion Meyer b (2008). Metabolomic quality control of claimed anti-malarial Artemisia afra herbal remedy and A. afra and A. annua plant extracts. South African Journal of Botany 74 (2008) 186-189

New Members:

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

Rodrigo César das Neves Amorim, PhD student, Laboratório de Princípios Ativos da Amazônia, INPA, Manaus, Brazil

Shelley Burton, Graduate Medical Anthropology student, University of Oxford, UK

Elizabeth Elliott, student of traditional Chinese Medicine, Gloucester, UK.

Mrs Morgi Gerrish , KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Studying herbal medicine.

Rocky Graziose, PhD student, Rutgers University (USA). Working on antimalarial properties of Amaryllidaceae.

Dr Anne-Emmanuelle HAY, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, University of Geneva

Mrs Joy D Ingram, KwaZulu Natal , South Africa. Studying herbal medicine. Interested in malaria control in Angola.

Dr Karine Ndjoko Ioset, Scientific collaborator, Head of the Analytical Service, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva.

Dr Liliana Muschietti, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Mrs. Francesca Severino, Project Officer, -Mario Negri- Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy.

Prof Tilahun Teklehaimanot, working on Ethiopian herbal antimalarials.

Ritam Newsletter No. 36 December 2004

Ritam Newsletter No. 37 March 2005

Ritam Newsletter No. 38 July 2005

Ritam Newsletter No. 39 August 2005

Ritam Newsletter No. 40 October 2005

Ritam Newsletter No. 41 December 2005

Ritam Newsletter No. 42 February 2006

Ritam Newsletter No. 43 May 2006

Ritam Newsletter No. 44 July 2006

Ritam Newsletter No. 45 November 2006

Ritam Newsletter No. 46 February 2007

Ritam Newsletter No. 47 January 2008