ABSTRACT
Malaria is a vector-borne disease that is responsible for a large number of mortality globally. The currently available synthetic antimalarial agents are affected with drug resistance. The other challenges linked to these synthetic antimalarial agents are poor water solubility, detrimental effect, and impaired bioavailability of drugs. Based on these limitations, alternative therapies have been linked to natural products in secondary metabolites and nutrients. Secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and quinone, among others, are reported to exhibited antimalarial activity. These phytochemicals and their subclasses display antimalarial action via suppression and inhibition of growth of the malaria parasites. Also, nutrients such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), folic acid, iron, and others are evidenced to be efficacious against malarial parasites. Vitamin A and ascorbic acid, through their immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities, show their antimalarial properties. Micronutrients such as iron serve as supplements to replenish lost form in malaria infection; however, it is not required in excessive amount to aid Plasmodium parasite functions. Hence, secondary products and nutrients could be used as a combined strategy in the management of malarial infection. This chapter highlights some of the works that show the antimalarial actions of both secondary metabolites and nutrients that can be obtained from plants.
