Evaluating the Effectiveness of Traditional Herbal Medicine in Reducing Malaria Parasite Load in Children under Five in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Alberta Jeanne N.

School of Applied Health Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death among children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa, despite concerted efforts to control the disease through conventional measures such as insecticide-treated nets and Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs). Traditional herbal medicine, deeply rooted in African healthcare practices, offers a potential alternative or complementary treatment for malaria in regions with limited access to modern healthcare and rising drug resistance. This review examined the effectiveness of traditional herbal remedies, specifically Artemisia annua, Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, and Morinda lucida, in reducing malaria parasite load in young children. Using a comprehensive literature review methodology, we analyzed data from recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of these plants in malaria treatment. The findings demonstrated that these herbs have notable antimalarial effects, with some studies showing a significant reduction in parasite load comparable to conventional antimalarial drugs. However, challenges in standardizing dosage and quality control, along with concerns about long-term safety, underscore the need for additional research to optimize these treatments. Integrating validated traditional remedies into malaria control strategies could offer an accessible and culturally accepted approach to reduce malaria’s burden in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for vulnerable populations in remote areas.

Keyword: Malaria parasite load, Traditional herbal medicine, Randomized controlled trials, Sub-Saharan Africa, Children under five.

CITE AS: Alberta Jeanne N. (2025). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Traditional Herbal Medicine in Reducing Malaria Parasite Load in Children under Five in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Randomized Controlled Trial. IAA Journal of Applied Sciences 13(1):1-5. https://doi.org/10.59298/IAAJAS/2025/131.1500