Date: 2021-10-07

Mr Nwonuma Obiora of the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, says Soursop leaf contains some curative anti-malaria substances that can be used to treat ailment.

Obiora, who stated this while defending his PhD thesis on Tuesday in Ilorin, explained that the Soursop leaf extract could cure malaria and that the level of toxin is very minimal.

Soursop is a native of the warm and tropical regions of the Americas, that goes by scientific name Annona muricata.

He explained that "studies have shown that more Africans have died of malaria than COVID-19, adding "we need anti-malaria drugs because this is actually targeted towards drug discovery".

Obiora maintained that the advantages of his discovery included safe for use, effective, cheap, affordable and cannot be resistant to plasmodium parasites.

He however recommended that further research should be carried out on the plant, using pure compound that he discovered in his findings.

Obiora pointed out that three compounds were actually predicted to be responsible for the anti-malaria effects.

'The compounds can exhibit anti-malaria properties, and this is a breakthrough to the list of anti-malaria drug available in the market," he said.