We survey species of the Araceae family traditionally used for malaria and its symptoms. The aim is to reveal the large number of antimalarial Araceae species in use worldwide and their largely unexplored potential as sources of antimalarial natural products. The SciFinder Scholar, Scielo, PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google books search engines were consulted. Forty-three records were found of 36 species and 23 genera of Araceae used for malaria and symptoms. The neotropical genera Philodendron Schott and Anthurium Schott were the best represented for use in the treatment of malaria, fevers, liver problems and headaches. Leaves and tubers were the parts most used and decoction was the most common preparation method. Extracts of Araceae species inhibit the in vitro growth of the
human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum Welch and significant median inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for extracts of guaimbê-sulcado (Rhaphidophora decursiva (Roxb.) Schott), aninga (Montrichardia linifera (Arruda) Schott), Culcasia lancifolia N.E. Br. and forest anchomanes (Anchomanes difformis (Blume) Engl.) have been reported demonstrating the antimalarial potential and cytotoxicity of extracts and sub-fractions. In the only report on the
antimalarial components of this family, the neolignan polysyphorin and the benzoperoxide rhaphidecurperoxin exhibited strong in vitro inhibition of the D6 and W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 = 368-540 ng/mL). No study on the in vivo antimalarial activity in animal models has been conducted on a species of Araceae. More bioguided chemical composition studies on the in vitro and also in vivo antimalarial activity of the Araceae are needed to further the knowledge of the antimalarial potential of this family.