Abstract
In many parts of the world, malaria undoubtedly poses a serious threat to health care systems. Malaria treatment has increasingly become complicated, primarily due to the emergence of widespread resistance of the malaria parasites to cheap and affordable malaria therapeutics. The use of herbal remedies to treat various ailments, including malaria and malaria-like ailments in Ghana is common. We herein report on the antiplasmodial and antioxidant activities as well as toxicological evaluation of four medicinal plants (Celtis africana, Grosseria vignei, Physalis micrantha, and Stachytarpheta angustifolia) commonly used to treat malaria in Ghana. Following Soxhlet extraction of plant samples in ethanol, extracts were screened against Plasmodium falciparum (3D7 strain) in an in vitro antiplasmodial assay. The phosphomolybdenum and DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl) assays were used to evaluate antioxidant activities while toxicity assessment was carried out in mice using the acute toxicity test and kidney and liver function tests. Extracts from Celtis africana and Physalis micrantha were very active towards the parasites with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50's) of 29.1 and 3.5 µg/mL, respectively. Extracts of Grosseria vignei and Stachytarpheta angustifolia were inactive, having IC50 values greater than 50 µg/mL. All extracts exhibited excellent total antioxidant capacities (>800 mg/g AAE) and good DPPH radical scavenging potential (IC50 range of 300–900 µg/mL). The median lethal dose (LD50) of all extracts in the toxicological evaluation was greater than 2000 mg/kg and there was no effect of extracts on the levels and activities of key biomarkers of liver and kidney function. The activities of these plants obtained in this study partly give credence to their folkloric use in herbal medicines and suggest that they could provide promising lead compounds for malaria drug discovery programs.
Highlights
In many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among the populace, with detrimental effects on health care programs in these countries. e economic impact is disheartening
Despite numerous efforts and interventions put in place to combat the disease globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2018 that malaria is still endemic in 80 countries and territories. is number has only been reduced from 108 since the year 2000 [1]
Four plants commonly used in folkloric medicine in Ghana for the treatment of malaria and malaria-like symptoms were selected for this study. e stem bark, leaves, and twigs of the plants are mostly used in herbal medicine and so these parts were employed here
Summary
In many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among the populace, with detrimental effects on health care programs in these countries. e economic impact is disheartening. Despite numerous efforts and interventions put in place to combat the disease globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2018 that malaria is still endemic in 80 countries and territories. Various interventions have been developed for both vector and parasites to curb malaria infection in humans. E use of mosquito repellent sprays and creams and mosquito insecticide nets are some strategies commonly used to control the malaria vector [2]. Either alone or in combination, have been developed for use as curative or prophylactic interventions. E recent development of a malaria vaccine increases the artillery available to man in this war against malaria [4, 5]. Reports of resistance to some drugs by the parasites have presented formidable challenges that need to be addressed for success [6, 7]
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