Understanding the Role of Medicinal Plants in Preventing Malaria in Pregnant Women

Ngugi Mwaura J.

School of Natural and Applied Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Malaria remains a significant threat to maternal and fetal health, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and other malaria-endemic regions. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable due to altered immune responses, which increase the risk of infection, placental parasitaemia, and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm delivery, and maternal anemia. While conventional antimalarial drugs exist, their safety, efficacy, and accessibility for pregnant women are often limited, compounded by increasing resistance among Plasmodium species. Traditional medicinal plants, long used by indigenous communities, offer an alternative or complementary strategy for malaria prevention during pregnancy. This paper examines the epidemiology of malaria in pregnancy, highlights the specific risks to maternal and fetal health, and presents an ethnobotanical overview of medicinal plants traditionally used for malaria prevention. It evaluates the phytochemical composition, pharmacological efficacy, and safety profiles of selected species. Furthermore, the paper advocates for integrating evidence-based traditional medicine into formal healthcare systems, promoting sustainable use, documentation, and community education. This holistic approach offers a culturally sensitive and potentially effective supplement to current malaria prevention strategies for pregnant women.

Keywords: Malaria in Pregnancy, Medicinal Plants, Traditional Medicine, Plasmodium falciparum, Antenatal Care, Ethnobotany, Herbal Remedies, Sub-Saharan Africa.

CITE AS: Ngugi Mwaura J. (2025). Understanding the Role of Medicinal Plants in Preventing Malaria in Pregnant Women. IDOSR JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ALLIED FIELDS 10(1):52-58. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JBBAF/2025/1015258