A Pilot Study of the Use of Picrorhiza kurroa in Patients with Malaria

Background and Purpose: Malaria is potentially a severe disease caused by infection of red blood cells with protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Malaria is an important cause of death, illness in children and pregnant women, especially in Africa The present study aimed to develop an alternative treatment that at may be effective and safe against falciparum & vivax malaria and easily available locally and culturally acceptable. To confirms the claims of traditional herbal medicinal plants Picrorhiza kurroa was analyzed by using water and alcoholic extracts.

Methods: The present study was conducted on 45 subjects, 24 with aqueous extract and 21 with alcohol extract to assess the clinical efficacy of the medicinal plant Picrorhiza kurroa against malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax in Dera Ismail Khan. The roots of P. kurroa were extracted by a Soxhlet extractor using triple distilled water and ethanol as a solvent to obtain both aqueous and alcoholic extracts of P. kurroa. Both extracts are formulated in a capsule of 500 mg.

Results: The efficacy was determined clinically and pathologically in patients from 14 to 50 years of both sexes, two capsules of 500 mg stat followed by one capsule twice daily for three days consecutively were given. After the treatment 44.44% of patients recovered, among them 85% (17/45) were male and 15% (3/45) were female. 44.44% efficacy of the drug is considered for further research on the same plant.

Conclusion: The study concluded that P. kurroa qualified as an active compound to undergo further investigation for its antimalarial activity and its active constituents should be investigated for better outcomes in the field of traditional medicines.