J.M.Nguta a *, J.M.Mbaria a, D.W.Gakuya a, P.K.Gathumbi a, J.D.Kabasa b, S.G.Kiama a a University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya b Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

 Malaria is the single most cause of ill health, death and poverty in sub-saharan Africa  There are as many as 300 m acute cases of malaria worldwide each year, resulting in 1m deaths  90% of these deaths occur in sub-saharan Africa, and majority of victims are children aged less than 5 yrs  Malaria is a major obstacle to social economic growth in Africa, accounting for 40% of public health expenditure Nguta et al, Journal of Ethno pharmacology

 In Kenya, 22M people are at risk, 70% of them are in rural areas  About 34,000 Kenyan children die every year from malaria compared to a total estimate of 42,000 people dead  80% of people worldwide are estimated to use herbal remedies against common diseases including malaria.  However, few data are available on their safety.

 The current study was designed to evaluate the acute toxicity of crude plant extracts used against malaria in Kenya in Artemia salina larvae

Study site (Msambweni district)

Preparation of extracts  Aqueous  Organic (CHCL 3 /MeOH, 1:1) –Cold maceration Acute toxicity determination  The procedure of Meyer et al (1982), was adopted for LC50 determination

 Only 24% of the aqueous crude extracts used against malaria in Msambweni, Kenya are safe  Only 4.5% of organic extracts screened were found be safe in brine shrimp lethality assay  Majority of crude extracts could not make safe antimalarials  Further antimalarial and phytochemical work is underway

 Carnegie Corporation of New York through RISE-AFNNET (for funding)  RISE-AFNNET colleagues  ICOPHAI 2011 organizing committee for a travel grant and invitation  University of Nairobi (Granting paid leave)  ICOPHAI 2011 Participants (For their attention). AHSANTENI SANA!