Curcumin Can Kill Malaria Parasites, Could Be Used as ACT Component, Researchers Find

Curcumin, which is derived from the spice turmeric, can kill malaria parasites and could be used as a component in artemisinin-based combination therapies, according to a study scheduled to be published in the May issue of the journal Clinical Therapeutics, PTI/The Hindu reports. Biochemist Govindarajan Pandmanabhan and colleagues at the Indian Institute of Science studied mice infected with malaria and found that the mice died within one week without any treatment. When treated with artemisinin or curcumin monotherapy, the mice survived for up to one month. When the mice were given the two treatments as a combination therapy, "the result was dramatic," according to the researchers. The scientists have been granted a U.S. patent for their finding, which could help reduce the cost of treating malaria. They also have proposed a new ACT comprised of artemisinin and curcumin to the World Health Organization (PTI/The Hindu, 4/18).