Current status of therapeutic agents derived from natural botanical products for malaria

Lee Sang-Eun, Shin Hyun-Il, Ku Bora, Cho Shin-Hyeong*
Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, KCDC

Malaria is one of the most important febriferous diseases in the world. Therapeutic agents such as artesunate, chloroquine and primaquine have been utilized as anti-malarial drugs. However, recently, an artemisinin resistant malaria has been reported in the Greater Mekong subregion. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of a new antimalarial drug. Plant products have made an immense contribution to malaria chemotherapy as direct antimalarial agents or important lead compounds for the novel discovery of potent antimalarial drugs. In addition, because natural products are an important source of drugs against pathogens including malaria, immense efforts have been exerted in many countries to find anti-malarial therapeutic agents derived from various plants. Until now, there is a lack of research to find antimalarial candidates from plants in Korea. A long-term research for exploring a new antimalarial compounds from objects of indigenous natural plants and marine organisms should be performed for global public health.