DFID research: Antimalarial trees in East Africa threatened with extinction
A new book from the ICRAF identifies species of antimalarial trees that have potential for further study and development as crops.
A new book by researchers at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), entitled Common Antimalarial Trees and Shrubs of East Africa, has recently been released. According to researchers, many species of trees in East Africa are at high risk of extinction, including some that have treated malaria symptoms in the region’s communities for hundreds of years. The natural remedial qualities of these species, and thus their potential to become a widespread treatment for malaria, could be lost forever.
The book provides a detailed assessment of 22 of the region’s malaria-fighting trees and shrubs. The species chosen for description were assigned by traditional medical practitioners, rural communities and scientists as among those that have potential for further study and development as crops by smallholders in East Africa.
More information
Read more about the research which led to the publication of this book.
Common Antimalarial Trees and Shrubs of East Africa: A description of species and a guide to cultivation and conservation through use is available for purchase from the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) or can be downloaded here.
Read the SciDev.Net article Antimalarial plants ‘in danger of extinction’
DFID provides core funding to the World Agroforestry Centre