Anti-Infective Research in South Africa
Malaria remains a significant problem in southern African countries and there is
active research on new antimalarial compound discovery from indigenous plants
in South Africa [74–78]. Presently, many of the African medicinal plants tested for
antiplasmodial activity have shown potential to be developed as new antimalarial
drugs [3].
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major concern in South Africa, and efforts are being di-
rected towards the search for new effective anti-TB medications present in plants
[56, 79, 80]. The Novel Drug Development Platform (NDDP, www.sahealthin-
fo.org/noveldrug) is a collaborative South African project aiming to develop new
medicines from indigenous medicinal plants effective against tuberculosis and
malaria, among other diseases.
Bilharzia, or schistosomiasis, is a public health concern in many developing
countries, and it is estimated that 95% of rural communities in and around South
Africa make use of traditional remedies to treat the disease [81]. Most research has,
however, focused on the development of plant molluscicides rather than treating
the human stage of the disease. Recently, an in vitro method of testing activity
against infective schistosomula worms by plant extracts was optimized and used to
screen numerous plant extracts [82].
Treatments for animal diseases apart from those caused by bacteria and fungi
are also receiving attention. Antibabesial activity (in vitro) has been reported in El-
ephantorrhiza elephantina, a commonly used plant in ethnoveterinary medicine
[83]. Studies are in progress on the antirickettsial effect of ethnoveterinary plants
and promising results are anticipated. Plants showing mechanisms of action dif-
ferent to those of commercially available drugs are particularly of interest. Work
has also been undertaken on detecting the effects of plant extracts against ticks, the
vectors of many diseases
Malaria remains a significant problem in southern African countries and there is
active research on new antimalarial compound discovery from indigenous plants
in South Africa [74–78]. Presently, many of the African medicinal plants tested for
antiplasmodial activity have shown potential to be developed as new antimalarial
drugs [3].
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major concern in South Africa, and efforts are being di-
rected towards the search for new effective anti-TB medications present in plants
[56, 79, 80]. The Novel Drug Development Platform (NDDP, www.sahealthin-
fo.org/noveldrug) is a collaborative South African project aiming to develop new
medicines from indigenous medicinal plants effective against tuberculosis and
malaria, among other diseases.
Bilharzia, or schistosomiasis, is a public health concern in many developing
countries, and it is estimated that 95% of rural communities in and around South
Africa make use of traditional remedies to treat the disease [81]. Most research has,
however, focused on the development of plant molluscicides rather than treating
the human stage of the disease. Recently, an in vitro method of testing activity
against infective schistosomula worms by plant extracts was optimized and used to
screen numerous plant extracts [82].
Treatments for animal diseases apart from those caused by bacteria and fungi
are also receiving attention. Antibabesial activity (in vitro) has been reported in El-
ephantorrhiza elephantina, a commonly used plant in ethnoveterinary medicine
[83]. Studies are in progress on the antirickettsial effect of ethnoveterinary plants
and promising results are anticipated. Plants showing mechanisms of action dif-
ferent to those of commercially available drugs are particularly of interest. Work
has also been undertaken on detecting the effects of plant extracts against ticks, the
vectors of many diseases
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