Malaria and Neem
Neem leaf extract substantially increases the state of
oxidation in red blood cells, preventing normal development of
the malaria plasmodia (Etkin,1981).
An active ingredient in neem leaves, called Irodin A, is
toxic to resistant strains of malaria, with 100 percent of the
plasmodia dead in 72 hours with only a 1:20,000 ratio of active
ingredients. (Abatan, 1986).
In other experiments alcoholic extracts of neem leaf performed
almost as well as the more refined compounds. (Badam, 1987)
Malaria affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide
and kills over two million people every year. It has even made
an occasional appearance in North America due to introduction
of new mosquito strains and travelers from malarial regions.
Malaria is transmitted from an infected person to a non-infected
person by the bites of certain species of mosquito. The
malarial gamete is sucked up from the infected person by the mosquito
and
carried in its gut until the mosquito bites an uninfected person.
The bite injects the gamete into the blood stream where it travels
to the kidney to mature.
Neem can block the development of the gamete in an infected
person.This
not only prevents the infected person from developing malaria
but also stops
the disease from spreading. (Jones et al, 1994)
Two other compounds found in neem leaves called gedunin,
a limonoid, and quercetin, a flavonoid, are at least as effective
as quinine and chloroquine against malaria (Badam, 1987); (Ekanem,
1978); (Iwu, 1986); (Khalid, 1986, 1989); (Obasiki, 1986); (Rochanakij,
1985).
Another molecule, gedunin, an extract of neem bark, has
also been found to be effective in treating malaria.(Khalid, 1989)
Several studies show that neem extracts are
effective even against chloroquine-resistant strains of the malaria
parasite (Obih and Makinde, 1985); (Bray, et al, 1990).
The antimalarial effects of neem appearto be
greater in the body than on a petri dish. This has led some to
speculate that stimulation of the immune system is a major factor
in
neem's effectiveness against malaria.(Obasiki and Jegede-Fadunsin,
1986).
Neem also lowers the fever and increases the appetite thereby
strengthening the body
which aids in fighting the disease parasite and speeding recovery.
(Abatan and Makinde, 1986).
Like the populations in malaria stricken ares who have
access to neem some westerners familiar with neem often substitute
an occasional neem leaf tea to drinking quinine on trips to malaria-infested
areas of Africa and India as a preventive measure (Larson, 1993).
Drinking neem teas or simply chewing a
couple of neem leaves a day reduces the possibility of contracting
malaria.
Even though neem tea may be effective against malaria,
a study done by Dr. Udeinya showed that water extracts are less
effective than leaf extracts obtained by a water/acetone combination.
(Udeinya, 1993)
According to reports Neem cures the disease completely in
one week, very good in persistent cases. Drink one glass three
times a day of Neem leaf extract made by boiling 30g of Neem leaves
in 3 liters of water for 20 minutes.
Some westerners familiar with Neem often substitute an
occasional Neem leaf tea to drinking quinine on trips to malaria-infested
areas of Africa and India as a preventive measure. Neem extracts
tested by the Malaria Institute were found to repel the mosquito
that causes malaria for up to twelve hours. Neem provides protection
from not only mosquitoes but also from biting flies, sand fleas
and ticks. Because of Neems proven effectiveness insect
repellents made with Neem are being used in malaria prone tropical
countries.
Malaria effects hundreds of millions of people worldwide
and kills over two million people every year. It has even made
an occasional appearance in North America due to introduction
of new mosquito strains and travelers from malaria regions.
Malaria is transmitted from an infected person to a non-infected
person by the bites of the certain species of mosquito. The malarial
gamete is sucked up from the infected person by the mosquito and
carried in its gut until the mosquito bites an uninfected person.
The bite injects the gamete into the blood stream where it travels
to the kidney to mature.
Neem can block the development of the gamete in the infected
person. This not only prevents the infected person from developing
malaria but also stops the disease from spreading.
Neem leaf extract substantially increases the state of
oxidation in red blood cells, preventing normal development of
the malaria plasmodia.
An active ingredient in neem
leaves, called Irodin A, is toxic to resistant strains of
malaria, with 100 percent of the plasmodia dead in 72 hours with
only a 1 : 20,000 ratio of active ingredients.
In other experiments alcoholic extracts of neem leaf performed
almost as well as the more refined compounds.
Two other compounds found in neem
leaves called gedunin, a limonoid, and quercetin, a flavonoid,
are at least as effective as quinine and chloroquine against malaria.
Malaria
Malaria is transmitted from an infected person to a non-infected
person by the bites of certain species of mosquito. The insect
bite injects gamete into the blood stream where it travels to
the kidney to mature. Neem can block the development of the gamete
in an infected person. This not only prevents the infected person
from developing malaria but also stops the disease from spreading.