Screening of traditionally used plants for in vivo antimalarial activity in mice

Abstract

Aqueous ethanol (80%) extracts of six plants used traditionally for treatment of malaria, Vepris glomerata (F.Hoffm.) Engl (Rutaceae), Maranthus floribunda (Bak.) F.White (Chrysobalanaceae), Strophanthus eminii Asch. & Pax ex Pax (Apocynaceae), Cassia abbreviata Oliv. (Leguminosae) and Caesalpinia bonducella L. Fleming (Fabaceae) were screened for antimalarial activity to establish validity of their claims. The extracts exhibited antimalarial activity in the 4-day Peter's suppressive antimalarial assay in mice inoculated with red blood cells parasitized with Plasmodium berghei. The extracts gave ID 50 values of 42.8, 111.0, 639.3 and 1560 mg/kg body wt for C. bonducella, C. abbreviata, T. furialis and S. eminii, respectively. The ID 50 values for V. glomerata and M. floribunda were above 2400 mg/kg body wt, above which point solubility was a problem. All the tested extracts were innocuous to the mice, up to 2400 mg/kg body wt, suggesting they may be safe for short-term use.

A review of antimalarial plants used in traditional medicine in communities in Portuguese-Speaking countries: Brazil, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe and Angola

“…abbreviata was associated with in vivo antimalarial activity and these results support the traditional use of this species (Innocent et al 2009). Of the other species of this genus, S. occidentalis is very common and widely distributed around the world.…”

Evaluation of the toxicological profile of the leaves and young twigs of <i>Caesalpinia bonduc</i> (linn) roxb

“…The leaves and young twigs of C. bonduc are used as an antimalarial decoction (Innocent et al, 2009), as well as for other ethno-medicinal uses in Nigeria. There is paucity of information on the toxicity profile of the ethanolic extract of the leaves and twigs of C. bonduc.…”

Anti-plasmodial activity of Norcaesalpin D and extracts of four medicinal plants used traditionally for treatment of malaria

“…Previous studies indicate that decoctions of E. schliebenii roots and stem bark , H. pubescens roots , C. bonducella roots and leaves, and decoction of D. melleri aerial parts are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria [12–14]. Dissotis melleri Hook.f (Melastomataceae, voucher No.…”