Shamika Ranasinghe1, Rashid Ansumana2, Joseph M Lamin3, Alfred S Bockarie4, Umaru Bangura5, Jacob A G Buanie6, David A Stenger7, Kathryn H Jacobsen8. 1. George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA. Electronic address: sranasi3@gmu.edu. 2. Mercy Hospital Research Laboratory, Kulanda Town, Bo, Sierra Leone; Njala University, Bo, Sierra Leone. Electronic address: rashidansumana@gmail.com. 3. Mercy Hospital Research Laboratory, Kulanda Town, Bo, Sierra Leone. Electronic address: jm_lamin@yahoo.com. 4. Mercy Hospital Research Laboratory, Kulanda Town, Bo, Sierra Leone. Electronic address: asbock2@yahoo.com. 5. Mercy Hospital Research Laboratory, Kulanda Town, Bo, Sierra Leone. Electronic address: umarbans@yahoo.co.uk. 6. Mercy Hospital Research Laboratory, Kulanda Town, Bo, Sierra Leone. Electronic address: jagbuanie@gmail.com. 7. U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20375 USA. Electronic address: david.stenger@nrl.navy.mil. 8. George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA. Electronic address: kjacobse@gmu.edu.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Most adults in West Africa treat acute febrile illnesses with local herbs, but the patterns of herbs used for malaria have not been recently described in Sierra Leone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a population-based cross-sectional approach to interview 810 randomly-sampled rural and urban adult residents of Bo, Sierra Leone, in December 2013 and January 2014 about their use of herbal remedies when they suspect they have malaria. RESULTS: In total, 55% of the participants reported taking one or more of seven herbs to treat symptoms of malaria. Among herb users, the most commonly used anti-malarial herbs were Moringa oleifera (moringa, 52%) and Sarcocephalus latifolius (yumbuyambay, 50%). The other herbs used included Senna siamea (shekutoure, 18%), Cassia sieberiana (gbangba, 18%), Uvaria afzelii (gone-botai, 14%), Morinda chrysorhiza (njasui, 14%), and Craterispermum laurinum (nyelleh, 7%). Combination herbal therapy was common, with 37% of herb users taking two or more herbs together when ill with suspected malaria. CONCLUSIONS: Indigenous medical knowledge about herbal remedies and combinations of local herbs remains an integral part of malaria case management in Sierra Leone.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Most adults in West Africa treat acute febrile illnesses with local herbs, but the patterns of herbs used for malaria have not been recently described in Sierra Leone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a population-based cross-sectional approach to interview 810 randomly-sampled rural and urban adult residents of Bo, Sierra Leone, in December 2013 and January 2014 about their use of herbal remedies when they suspect they have malaria. RESULTS: In total, 55% of the participants reported taking one or more of seven herbs to treat symptoms of malaria. Among herb users, the most commonly used anti-malarial herbs were Moringa oleifera (moringa, 52%) and Sarcocephalus latifolius (yumbuyambay, 50%). The other herbs used included Senna siamea (shekutoure, 18%), Cassia sieberiana (gbangba, 18%), Uvaria afzelii (gone-botai, 14%), Morinda chrysorhiza (njasui, 14%), and Craterispermum laurinum (nyelleh, 7%). Combination herbal therapy was common, with 37% of herb users taking two or more herbs together when ill with suspected malaria. CONCLUSIONS: Indigenous medical knowledge about herbal remedies and combinations of local herbs remains an integral part of malaria case management in Sierra Leone.
Authors: Peter Bai James; Lexina Taidy-Leigh; Abdulai Jawo Bah; Joseph Sam Kanu; Jia Bainga Kangbai; Stephen Sevalie Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2018-04-22 Impact factor: 2.629
Authors: Camilla Midtgaard Eriksen; Monica Lauridsen Kujabi; Aminata Sulaiman Kanu; Gabriel Gulis Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-01-04 Impact factor: 3.390