The Effectiveness of Varying Combination Ratios of A. cordifolia and M. indica against Field and Laboratory Strains of P. falciparum In Vitro

Abstract

Background. Drug resistance in malaria is a global problem, with reports of Plasmodium parasites resistant to the current first-line antimalarial drug, artemisinin, expanding from Southeast Asia to Africa. There is therefore an urgent need to identify new drug candidates that will be effective against the existing malaria parasites. Drug combination therapy presents a myriad of advantages over monotherapy including delayed onset of resistance, potentiation, and synergism. This present study explored the effectiveness of combinations of aqueous extracts of Alchornea cordifolia (A. cordifolia) and Mangifera indica (M. indica) at clearing both laboratory and field isolates of P. falciparum. Methods. Synchronized ring stage cultures of field (FA08) and laboratory strains (NF54 and CamWT_C580Y) of P. falciparum were subjected to combinations of different concentrations and ratios of aqueous extracts of A. cordifolia and M. indica. The growth inhibition of the individual plant extracts and their combinatory effects were studied in vitro using SYBR Green I drug assay. Results. The A. cordifolia extract exhibited 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.71, 7.80, and 3.56 μg/mL against the NF54, CamWT_C580Y, and FA08 parasite strains, respectively. Mangifera indica exhibited IC50 of 18.11, 20.08, and 10.23 μg/mL against the NF54, CamWT_C580Y, and FA08 parasite strains, respectively. Additive, synergistic and antagonistic interactions were observed at different combinations of A. cordifolia and M. indica extracts. Conclusion. A combination product containing A. cordifolia and M. indica has the potential to serve as an effective antimalarial as majority of the tested combinations of aqueous extracts of A. cordifolia and M. indica extracts exhibited synergistic effects in vitro against the NF54, CamWT_C580Y, and FA08 P. falciparum strains.

West African medicinal plants: a review of their antimalarial activity

“…Plasmodium berghei strain was used in 25 studies while Plasmodium yoeli was reported that in a single study. Sixteen (16) of the 26 extracts tested present a good activity in vivo i.e. 61.54% of plants studied and among them, those from methanol and water distilled respectively have recorded more active plants with 5 plants each.…”

Prospective Plants with Corroborated Antimalarial Actions: A Review

“…M. indica is grown in tropical regions around the world, including India, Thailand, China, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia (Pierson et al, 2014). M. indica aqueous extract exhibited IC 50 of 18.11, 20.08, and 10.23 μg/ml against NF54, CamWT_C580Y, and FA08 parasite strains of P. falciparum, respectively (Jibira et al, 2020).…”