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The Study of Treaments for Malaria and HIV/AIDS and theTransfer and Introduction of Traditional Knowledge into Curricula
Opening up higher education to society, Curriculum innovation in higher education institutions (HEIs), Higher education's contribution to sustainability
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Herbal Medicine, HIV/AIDS, Medicinal Research
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The Study of Treaments for Malaria and HIV/AIDS and theTransfer and Introduction of Traditional Knowledge into Curricula
A project dedicated to exploring the medicinal plants of the Manombo Reserve was initiated in 2007. Located 326 km from Fianarantsoa, Manombo covers a total of 5320 hectares. Malaria and other diseases such HIV/AIDS are endemic in the region. Statistics published by the local hospital showed malaria infection rates of 1.92%, 1.45% and 1.18% of the population in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. Additionally, a high rate of HIV/AIDS (16%) was found in one of the villages of the region. The true figures may in fact be much higher, as many inhabitants do not go to hospital but instead use medicinal plants for self-medication. The project focuses on anti-malaria and anti-HIV/AIDS phytochemical compounds derived from the reserve’s plants, which possess potentially health-promoting properties. The first part of the study—identification, collection and phytochemical screening of plants—is being done in Fianarantsoa, and the follow-up will be done at the UKZN in South Africa with the collaboration of the UNIPD.
Madagascar is home to approximately 10,000 native higher plant species, about 8,000 of which are endemic. The value of these species, both to the local people’s health and to the world, is potentially immense. Despite its importance, this flora is facing a serious threat: over 80% of Madagascar has been stripped of its vegetation cover. The island’s unique diversity, combined with the threat to the remaining native vegetation, puts Madagascar amongst the world’s highest conservation priorities. In 2007, the Chemistry Department of the Normal Superior School at the UF called upon foreign universities to participate in a collaboration project aimed at assisting in conservation efforts and improving the lives of the people living in the area.
A project dedicated to exploring the medicinal plants of the Manombo Reserve was initiated in 2007. Located 326 km from Fianarantsoa, Manombo covers a total of 5320 hectares. Malaria and other diseases such HIV/AIDS are endemic in the region. Statistics published by the local hospital showed malaria infection rates of 1.92%, 1.45% and 1.18% of the population in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. Additionally, a high rate of HIV/AIDS (16%) was found in one of the villages of the region. The true figures may in fact be much higher, as many inhabitants do not go to hospital but instead use medicinal plants for self-medication. The project focuses on anti-malaria and anti-HIV/AIDS phytochemical compounds derived from the Reserve’s plants, which possess potentially health-promoting properties. The first part of the study—identification, collection and phytochemical screening of plants—is being done in Fianarantsoa, and the follow-up will be done at the UKZN in South Africa with the collaboration of the UNIPD. The project is designed to value natural products and encourage people to recognize their therapeutic uses, while helping to improve the living conditions of poor Malagasy people who are vulnerable to diseases and cannot afford pharmaceuticals. The project also promotes the transfer of biodiversity maintenance know-how amongst many specialities.
Thus, the project focuses on the following:
Raising the profile of natural products in order to help people recognize their therapeutic uses.
Helping poor Malagasy people who are vulnerable to diseases and cannot afford pharmaceuticals.
Transferring biodiversity maintenance know-how amongst many specialities.
The main objectives of the project are to maintain biodiversity along the east coast of the province, to develop the UF’s research capacity, and to promote South-South and South-North collaboration amongst universities.
The project’s specific aims are as follows:
To raise funds for research on Malagasy plants.
To create a national network for biological and phytochemical screening of natural products.
To train graduate and postgraduate students from the UF, UKZN and UNIPD.
To generate useful and useable data for boosting biodiversity conservation and improving the living conditions of the inhabitants of the Manombo Reserve.
To discover new anti-malaria and anti-HIV/AIDS bioactive products by studying the chemical composition of Malagasy plants.
To improve the living conditions of inhabitants of the Manombo Reserve.
To create associations for the promotion of women in the villages around Manombo that engage in preservation and planting activities that meet the women’s needs as weavers.
1. National Association for the Management of Protected Areas in Madagascar. [Milestone 1: Study/research permit obtained from ANGAP]
2. Survey of the indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) of the local inhabitants close to the study area and selection of plant materials by researchers and students in conjunction with local traditional healers. [Milestone 2: IKS document produced and list of potential plants for study generated]
3. Identification and collection of plant materials for study. [Milestone 3: Authenticated samples of plant materials for study]
4. Extraction of plant materials for chemical and biological assays. [Milestone 4: Crude plant extracts produced for further studies]
5. Fractionation and purification of crude extracts by students under the supervision of UF academic staff. [Milestone 5: Pure and semi-pure compounds obtained]
6. Further purification and chemical structural elucidation by students at the UKZN School of Chemistry, South Africa. [Milestone 6: Chemical structure of the isolated natural products established]
7. Biological activity of pure natural products. [Milestone 7: Biological activity of the isolated pure products established]
8. Structural modification, synthesis or semisynthesis of bioactive compounds. [Milestone 8: Derivatives produced and synthetic routes established]
9. Writing publications and reports: the research results will be the intellectual property of the research team. As in all research projects, the publications will be co-authored by all researchers involved. The results will be written up in English and French. [Milestone 9: Students’ thesis completed and results published]
10. Meetings and workshops on work progress: inter-academic meetings between all parties to discuss the progress of the project. [Milestone 10: Assessment reports and future research plan finalized]
11. Creation of a women’s association on the Manombo Reserve (to be done as the project progresses). [Milestone 11: Contribution to social work]
Since 2000, 30 students and two lecturers have contributed to the exploration of regional plants around Fianarantsoa. After assessing the students’ dissertations on this work, it was noticed that the students were interested in studying a particular area in order to combine their work with biodiversity conservation. The Chemistry Department also expressed interest in helping to extend protected areas. As the project is currently underway and because of a lack of funds, most of main results listed below are still technically ‘expected outcomes’:
To increase the number of students pursuing master’s degrees and doctorates. One student is pursuing a master’s degree, while seven others are preparing their phytochemical screening in order to begin the in-depth study of plants in the second year of the master’s.
To enable students to help solve social problems. The students assume duties as citizens and are taught to orient their goals towards real people’s needs. Visits to the Reserve allowed the project team to collaborate with local healers and inhabitants in the collection of plants.
To develop relationships between lecturers, students and villagers, as well as between students and lecturers from different universities. Four Italian students will come to Madagascar to survey and collect plants in Manombo with students from the UF (March 2009).
To improve knowledge about the Reserve’s plants. Since 2007, the project has collected and studied 13 plants from the Manombo Reserve and carried out botanical and phytochemical screening.
* As of December 2009.
2007; ongoing
The project is carried out in partnership with several universities and social associations:
National Association for the Management of Protected Areas in Madagascar (ANGAP).
Kononia, an Italian-Malagasy association for the promotion of villagers.
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa.
University of Padua (UNIPD), Faculty of Agriculture.
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