Compositions and Methods for Treating Multi-Drug Resistant Malaria

Abstract

A method is provided for treating an individual for a malarial infection, in particular drug-resistant species of Plasmodium , including administering to the individual in need of such treatment a composition comprising an extract containing an effective amount of one or more anti-malarial di- or tri-terpene compounds. Potent and effective extracts containing the anti-malarial compounds can be derived from Luo Han fruit and Stevia leaves, including combinations of the same, for treating and preventing malaria in an inexpensive manner from readily available commodities. The composition may be administered orally in a solid or liquid ingestible form.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating an individual for a malarial infection, comprising administering to the individual in need of such treatment an effective amount of a composition comprising a Stevia leaf extract containing steviol glycosides and an acceptable carrier; wherein the steviol glycosides is present in a range between 1% to 99% by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of mefloquine, halofantrine, artesunate, artemether, chloroquine, lumefantrine, primaquine, sulfadoxine, sulfalene, pyrimethamine, doxycycline, tetracycline, azithromycine, proguanil, cycloguanil, dapsone, artemsinin, atovoquone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steviol glycosides are selected from the group consisting of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, dulcoside A, dulcoside B, rubusoside, stevioside, and steviolbioside. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of mefloquine, halofantrine, artesunate, artemether, chloroquine, lumefantrine, primaquine, sulfadoxine, sulfalene, pyrimethamine, doxycycline, tetracycline, azithromycine, proguanil, cycloguanil, dapsone, artemsinin, atovoquone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the malarial infection is drug-resistant. 
     
     
         6 . An antimalarial composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a Stevia leaf extract and an acceptable carrier, wherein the Stevia leaf extract contains steviol glycosides and the steviol glycosides is present in a range between 1% to 99% by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
         7 . The antimalarial composition of  claim 6 , further comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of mefloquine, halofantrine, artesunate, artemether, chloroquine, lumefantrine, primaquine, sulfadoxine, sulfalene, pyrimethamine, doxycycline, tetracycline, azithromycine, proguanil, cycloguanil, dapsone, artemsinin, atovoquone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The antimalarial composition of  claim 6 , wherein the steviol glycosides are selected from the group consisting of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, dulcoside A, dulcoside B, rubusoside, stevioside and steviolbioside. 
     
     
         9 . The antimalarial composition of  claim 8 , further comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of mefloquine, halofantrine, artesunate, artemether, chloroquine, lumefantrine, primaquine, sulfadoxine, sulfalene, pyrimethamine, doxycycline, tetracycline, azithromycine, proguanil, cycloguanil, dapsone, artemsinin, atovoquone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The antimalarial composition of  claim 9 , wherein the compound is artemisinin. 
     
     
         11 . The antimalarial composition of  claim 6 , wherein the acceptable carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The antimalarial composition of  claim 6  formulated for oral, parenteral, intravenous, intramuscular, transdermal, buccal, subcutaneous, or suppository administration. 
     
     
         13 . The antimalarial composition of  claim 6 , wherein the effective amount of rebaudioside A is in a range of about 10 mg to about 500 mg. 
     
     
         14 . The antimalarial composition of  claim 6 , formulated for oral, sublingual, buccal, intranasal, parenteral, intravenous, intradermal, transdermal, and subcutaneous administration. 
     
     
         15 . The antimalarial composition of  claim 6 , wherein the carrier is an excipient selected from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, mannitol, and xylitol.