Gustav Komlaga

By Merlin L.K. Mensah, Gustav Komlaga, Arnold D. Forkuo, Caleb Firempong, Alexander K. Anning and Rita A. Dickson

The use of herbal medicines has seen a great upsurge globally. In developing countries, many patronize them largely due to cultural acceptability, availability and cost. In developed countries, they are used because they are natural and therefore assumed to be safer than allopathic medicines. In recent times, however, there has been a growing concern about their safety. This has created a situation of ambivalence in discussions regarding their use. Some medicinal plants are intrinsically toxic by virtue of their constituents and can cause adverse reactions if inappropriately used. Other factors such as herb-drug interactions, lack of adherence to good manufacturing practice (GMP), poor regulatory measures and adulteration may also lead to adverse events in their use. Many in vivo tests on aqueous extracts largely support the safety of herbal medicines, whereas most in vitro tests on isolated single cells mostly with extracts other than aqueous ones show contrary results and thus continue the debate on herbal medicine safety. It is expected that toxicity studies concerning herbal medicine should reflect their traditional use to allow for rational discussions regarding their safety for their beneficial use. While various attempts continue to establish the safety of various herbal medicines in man, their cautious and responsible use is required.

Part of the book: Herbal Medicine

By Desmond Nkrumah, Reinhard Isaac Nketia, Bernard Kofi Turkson and Gustav Komlaga

Malaria is an acute infection caused by the Plasmodium parasites, namely, P. falciparum, P. ovale., P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. knowlesii, in humans. The disease is spread through the bite of a mosquito carrying the parasite, which typically bites at night and lives at elevations lower than 1500 meters. Symptoms of the disease include fever, general body weakness and pains, headache, shivering, and vomiting among others which start manifesting about 6–9 days after a mosquito carrying the parasite bites a person. Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and the South Pacific are among the regions where malaria is transmitted. There has not been any malaria in Europe since 2015. The strategies used for malaria control include vector (mosquito) control, the use of insecticide treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and the use of antimalarial drugs and vaccines among others. The screening of potential antimalarial drugs usually employs in vitro and in vivo assays which evaluates the levels of parasitaemia following infection and drug treatment. The in vitro assays include Schizont counting on thick films, DNA dye intercalation assays, isotopic assays, and quantification of parasite proteins. The in vivo assays include the Peter’s four-day suppressive and Rane’s curative assays.

Part of the book: Mosquito-Borne Tropical Diseases [Working title]