Malaria has a negative impact on health and social and economic life of residents of endemic countries. The ultimate goals of designing new treatment for
malaria are to prevent clinical
infection, reduce morbidity, and decrease mortality. There are great advances in the understanding of the parasite-host interaction through studies by various scientists. In some of these studies, attempts were made to evaluate the roles of
malaria pigment or toxins in the pathogenesis of
malaria.
Hemozoin is a key metabolite associated with severe
malaria anemia (SMA), immunosuppression, and
cytokine dysfunction. Targeting of this pigment may be necessary in the design of new therapeutic products against
malaria. In this review, the roles of
hemozoin in the morbidity and mortality of
malaria are highlighted as an essential target in the quest for effective control of clinical
malaria.