Cerebral and severe malaria are life-threatening complications of Plasmodium falciparum infections that contribute to significant malaria-associated mortality worldwide. The current frontline treatments, Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapies (ACTs), can effectively kill the parasites. Nevertheless, the mortality due to cerebral and severe malaria occurs despite the parasite clearance. Hence, there is a need of an adjunct drug in combination with ACTs to prevent malaria deaths

The present invention relates to a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of cerebral and severe malaria, focusing on the synergistic role of griseofulvin when administered alongside ACTs. This is based on the scientific finding that griseofulvin can inhibit heme synthesis in malaria parasites, which contributes to cerebral malaria pathogenesis and disease severity