Pharmacological evidence for the folk use of Nefang

In spite of substantial control efforts, malaria remains a world burden with high morbidity, mortality and huge economic burden in endemic countries. Its multifactorial pathophysiology coupled to the emerging resistance in the causative agent to available drugs obliges the need for new drugs with broad therapeutic potential. Plants have had a remarkable value in the historical timeline of anti-malarial therapeutics, reason for their continuous use. Its multifactorial pathogenesis obliges effective therapeutic approaches to shift from assays on the parasites, to include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antinociceptive effects. The pharmacological justification of these principles could provide the basis for further development of plant-based traditional medicine as a reliable therapeutic tool. Nefang is an equipotency ratio polyherbal anti-malarial, composed of Mangifera indica (bark and leaf) and leaves of Psidium guajava, Carica papaya, Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus sinensis and Ocimum gratissimum. There are no documented studies on its efficacy and safety. Herewith, some pharmacological evidence of its folk use, as a primary step towards its standardization.