Anti-plasmodial potential of crude alkaloidal extract of three plants used in traditional medicine in India

Abstract

Malaria is one of the most important tropical diseases and the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in India. The search for new antimalarial compounds has been necessitated by Plasmodium falciparum resistance to standard antimalarial drugs. Plants are important source of biologically active compounds and have potential for the development of novel antimalarial drugs. Since a number of alkaloids have been successfully used for the treatment of malaria since ancient time In this study the crude alkaloid extract of three young plants Carica papaya Linn. (Family: Caricaceae), Datura innoxia Mill. (Family: Solonaceae) and Ricinus communis Linn (Euphorbiaceae) were evaluated against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. The mean inhibitory concentration (IC50), the mean cytotoxic concentration and the selectivity index were estimated. The cytotoxicity was estimated on Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cell line in maximum dose tested. The alkaloidal extract of C. papaya showed stronger antiplasmodial activity as compared to D. innoxia and R. communis, the IC50 values in the range of 28.35 to 93.17μg/mL. Results demonstrated alkaloids as the putative active compound showing promising antimalarial effect.