title: Identification and evaluation of Peruvian plants used to treat malaria and leishmaniasis.
abstract: Households in eleven geographically and ethnically distinct areas in Loreto, Peru, were interviewed about their knowledge and use of plants, for the treatment of malaria and leishmaniasis. The survey resulted in 988 use records representing 118 plant-taxa for malaria and 289 use-records representing 85 plant-taxa for leishmaniasis. In both cases the 10 most frequently reported taxa accounted for about half of all the use-records. Plant material was collected and extracts were screened for in vitro inhibition of Plasmodium and Leishmania parasites. In the case of Plasmodium, extracts of 11 of the 13 most frequently reported plants showed significant growth inhibitory activity, while only a few plant extracts inhibited the growth of Leishmania parasites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systematic Botany, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade 540, DK-8000 Arhus C., Denmark. lars.kvist@biology.au.dk
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kvist
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mejia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000188:drug therapy; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010568:Peru; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts