Neem and ACT Vs Malaria

According to world health, the African region was home to 95% of malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths in 2020. Children under 5 accounted for an estimated 80% of all malaria deaths in the Region. With the increasing cost of the approved artemisinin combination(ACT), a local solution would make it possible for the poor in the population to access anti-malaria treatment.

Research has shown that a combination of Neem (Dongonyaro) and ACT led to faster destruction of malaria parasite in blood compared to ACT alone. This research was carried out by Dr Anagu from the Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Charles Esimone in collaboration with other researchers from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The outcome was published in the journal of Pharmaceutical Biology (https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2013.872153 With the increase in resistance treatment failures to ACT, combining it with NEEM which is readily available is an interesting approach that could be exploited by the pharmaceutical companies to enable the achievement of the millennium development goal No. 3 in Nigeria and Africa.