A systematic review of antimalarial medicinal plants in Democratic Republic of the Congo

AUTHORS:

Butoto Imani Wa Rusaati,Arusi Patience Gendusa, Sung-Hyun Joo, Joo Won Park, Cephas Ndabaga Masumbuko, Gentil Kaboyi Iragi, Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua, Astrid Matendo Furaha, Nkulu Kabange Rolly, Jun Won Kang

ABSTRACT:

In Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC), malaria is caused by a parasite
called Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria is
one of the country’s major public health
issues and responsible for the death of
tens of thousands of people every year
in both rural and urban environments.
Antimalarial drugs are commonly used
but some recorded cases of drug resistance
are a major obstacle to controlling
the spread of malaria. It is therefore
essential to identify new bioactive molecules
as an alternative. Many medicinal
plants with different properties have
been used as treatments for a variety of
diseases in the DRC, including malaria.
This study provides a systematic review
of antimalarial plant resources in the
DRC. From 28 papers on ethnomedicine
published between 2001 and 2019, a
total of 232 plant species belonging to
67 different plant families and identified
in 13 provinces was reported in the
treatment of malaria. A large number of
these plant species belong to the Fabaceae,
Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae,
and Apocyanaceae families. Species
cited in more than three provinces
include Cymbopogon citratus, Vernonia
amygdalina, Rauvolfia vomitoria and
Catharanthus roseus. Most of the species
identified as antimalarial plants were tree
species, with phanerophytes predominating.
In addition, leaves were identified
as the main ingredients for preparing
remedies, most commonly by decoction
administered orally.