Antimalarial Activity of Some Plants Traditionally used in Meru district of Kenya
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Date
2007Author
Muthaura, CN
Rukunga, GM
Chhabra, SC
Omar, SA
Guantai, AN
Gathirwa, JW
Tolo, FM
Mwitari, PG
Keter, LK
Kirira, PG
Kimani, CW
Mungai, GM
Njagi, ENM
Language
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Ten plant extracts commonly used by the Meru community of Kenya were evaluated for the in vitro antiplasmodial,
in vivo antimalarial, cytotoxicity and animal toxicity activities. The water and methanol extracts
of Ludwigia erecta and the methanol extracts of Fuerstia africana and Schkuhria pinnata exhibited high
antiplasmodial activity (IC50 <<<<< 5µµµµµg/mL) against chloroquine sensitive (D6) and resistant (W2) Plasmodium
falciparum clones. The cytotoxicity of these highly active extracts on Vero E6 cells were in the range
161.5–4650.0µµµµµg/mL with a selectivity index (SI) of 124.2–3530.7. In vivo studies of these extracts showed
less activity with chemosuppression of parasitaemia in Plasmodium berghei infected mice of 49.64–65.28%.
The methanol extract of Clerodendrum eriophyllum with a lower in vitro activity (IC50 9.51–10.56µµµµµg/mL)
exhibited the highest chemosuppression of 90.13%. The methanol and water extracts of Pittosporum
viridiflorum were toxic to mice but at a lower dose prolonged survival of P. berghei infected mice (p <<<<< 0.05)
with no overt signs of toxicity. However, the extracts were cytotoxic (SI, 0.96–2.51) on Vero E6 cells. These
results suggest that there is potential to isolate active non-toxic antimalarial principles from these plants.
Citation
Phytother. Res. 21, 860–867 (2007)Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10377]