Ethnobotanical study on some Malaysian anti-malarial plants: a community based survey.
BACKGROUND
Various plants species are used in the traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria. This is the first community based ethnobotanical study in Peninsular Malaysia.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the plants traditionally used in the treatment of malaria in Malaysia.


METHODS
An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among 233 Aboriginal and rural households, and traditional healers in malaria endemic areas in Peninsular Malaysia. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire.


RESULTS
Nineteen species belonging to 17 families were identified. Twelve plant species have not previously been documented for the treatment of malaria in Malaysia.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of this study can be used as an ethnopharmacological basis for selecting plants for further anti-malarial phytochemical and pharmaceutical studies.
Al-Adhroey
Abdulelah H
AH
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. halmekhlafi@yahoo.com
Nor
Zurainee M
ZM
Al-Mekhlafi
Hesham M
HM
Mahmud
Rohela
R
D000962:Antimalarials / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019448:Ethnobotany; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy; D008296:Malaysia; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts