ABSTRACT
Malaria is a global health problem which is widely treated by traditional medicines. Conservation of medicinal plant species is a worldwide concern not only because of its overexploitation but also with the method of their harvesting. The increasing demand and supply cycle due to human population is a menace for the conservation of biodiversity. Pressure of human population and changes in climatic conditions will hinder the persistence of medicinal plant species that are potentially used in treating malaria. Despite the therapeutic effectiveness and high dependency on antimalarial plant species, there is minimal knowledge about the challenges regarding conservation and harvest. Medicinal plant resources can be conserved by both in situ and ex situ strategies. Natural reserves and wild nurseries are known to retain the effectiveness of plants in their natural environment, whereas botanical gardens and seed banks are essential paradigms for ex situ conservation. Sustainable harvesting methods should be practiced considering different factors, such as the time at which harvest is done, tools used in harvesting, and the part used which has to be harvested. Overexploitation, deforestation, inadequate rainfall, fire, unsustainable harvesting techniques, and overgrazing are the main reasons that threaten medicinal plants. There is thus a compelling need to promote sustainable harvesting techniques by implementing public awareness initiatives on conservation legislatives by concerned authorities in order to prevent the extinction of antimalarial plant species.
