Antiplasmodial Studies Within the Plant Family Amaryllidaceae

Abstract

Plants have long served as a first line of defense response to malaria. They have also spawned several classes of antimalarial drugs such as quinine and artemisinin. However, most if not all of these drugs have succumbed to multidrug resistance, thus reigniting interest in the identification of novel chemotherapies against this parasitic disease. The starting point for many of such endeavors lies with the plants themselves whose extracts have served as herbal remedies, which originate from traditional medicine (TM). Several species of the Amaryllidaceae have been shown to have such functions in TM. This survey examines those plants of the family, which have hitherto been examined for antiplasmodial effects against the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Also considered are the alkaloid constituents of these plants, which have demonstrated activities against various strains of the pathogen. Particular emphasis is made on those plants which both demonstrate such activity as well as have a place in traditional therapies for malaria.