In vitro antimalarial activity of selected medicinal plants native to Tigray region of Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundVarious medicinal plants are used as alternative remedies for the management of malaria, an important infectious disease responsible for around 228 million cases and 405,000 deaths worldwide in 2018. The worsening of the disease is highly associated to an emergence of drug-resistant parasites. Hence, the search of new alternative antimalarial agents from traditionally used medicinal plants is the most viable approach. The current study was aimed to evaluate the in vitro antiplasmodial property of Aloe elegans, Aloe monticola, Capparis tomentosa, Hygrophila schulli and Tephrosia gracilipes extracts.Methods Leaf latexes were collected from Aloe elegans and Aloe monticola, whereas cold maceration with 70% ethanol was used to prepare extracts from roots of Capparis tomentosa and Tephrosia gracilipes , and leaves of Hygrophila schulli . The antiplasmodial activity of the extracts against asexual and gametocyte stages was tested using parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay and luciferase assay, respectively. Cell cytotoxicity was assessed on human microvascular endothelial cells by the MTT assayResults Of the five selected medicinal plants, leaf latex of Aloe monticola showed the best activity against both asexual stages and stage V gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum . The leaf latex of Aloe elegans and ethanolic extract of Hygrophila schulli leaves also showed antiplasmodial property against asexual stages. On the contrary, the roots of Capparis tomentosa and Tephrosa gracilipes were inactive.Conclusion Findings of this study may partly support the acclaimed traditional use of the leaves latexes of both Aloe elegans and Aloe monticola and the ethanolic extract of Hygrophila schulli leaves for the management of mild to moderate malaria.

Antimalarial Efficacy of Hydromethanolic Root Extract and Solvent Fractions of Urtica simensis Hochst. ex. A. Rich. (Urticaceae): An Experimental Study on Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

“…The host's immune system is crucial in the total suppression or elimination of infections [ 71 ]. Furthermore, several plants have been shown to have antiplasmodial properties, either by increasing red blood cell oxidation or by limiting protein production [ 72 ]. Although the specific mechanism of action of this extract is unknown, it is possible that the plant functions through one or more of the routes indicated above, depending on the phytochemical content of the extract.…”