Antimalarial activity, Plasmodium berghei, traditional medicines

Authors

  • E. Innocent
  • M. J. Moshi
  • P. J. Masimba
  • Z. H. Mbwambo
  • M. C. Kapingu
  • A. Kamuhabwa

Keywords:

Antimalarial activity, Plasmodium berghei, traditional medicines

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 ID50 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 ID50 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.

Author Biography

E. Innocent

Department of Biological and Preclinical Studies, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O.Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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Published

2009-03-07

How to Cite

Innocent, E., Moshi, M. J., Masimba, P. J., Mbwambo, Z. H., Kapingu, M. C., & Kamuhabwa, A. (2009). Antimalarial activity, Plasmodium berghei, traditional medicines. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 6(2), 163–167. Retrieved from https://journals.athmsi.org/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/572

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Section

Research Papers