Citrus as a source of antimalarial agents: current research trends and future directions

Malaria is a parasite disease that can be fatal and is most common in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Five species of Plasmodium, including Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, are responsible for most cases of disease. The two most recommended medications for treating malaria are artemisinin and chloroquine. However, several artemisinin and chloroquine-resistant plasmodium strains have lately been found as a result of the regular use of these medications. It is crucial to find an alternative, safe source of malaria treatment. Plants are known to contain a wide range of bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, and terpenes. These bioactive substances target several plasmodium cellular and metabolic pathways. For example, flavonoids target plasmodium's fatty acid synthesis, terpenes block plasmodial DNA replication, whereas coumarins an successfully block DNA gyrase. Citrus (Rutaceae) is one of the common plant sources that has a high concentration of the previously listed plant secondary metabolites. The existence of these bioactive compounds has previously established the significance of citrus in pharmacology and medicine. Nevertheless, no review has yet been done on the mechanism via which portions of citrus plants can be used to treat malaria. This review aims to explore and summarize the mechanism by which citrus plants can be utilized for malarial treatment.