Antiplasmodial and Genotoxic Study of Selected Ghanaian Medicinal Plants.

Selorme Adukpo,Patrick Kwaku Ekpe,Alexander K Nyarko,Doris Elewosi,Dominic Adotei Edoh,Richard Harry Asmah,Michael Fokua Ofori

doi:10.1155/2020/1582724

Abstract

Results Five out of the eight plants, A. boonei stem bark, S; siamea Lam root, M. lucida Benth leaves, P. niruri, and A. hispidum DC whole plants, showed varying degrees of antiplasmodial activity against the asexual stage of the parasite. The most active extract against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) P. falciparum strains is the A. hispidum extract which yielded a mean inhibitory concentration at 50% (IC50) of 3.66 µg/ml and 3.71 µg/ml for 3D7 and Dd2, respectively. This was followed by S. siamea Lam with 3.95 µg/ml for 3D7 and 4.47 µg/ml for Dd2. The IC50 values of the A. boonei extract against 3D7 and Dd2 P. falciparum parasites were 5.13 µg/ml and 3.62 µg/ml, respectively. For the M. lucida Benth extract, the least IC50 value was 6.46 µg/ml. All five extracts exhibited dose-dependent antiplasmodial activity. Assessment of the genotoxic effects the A. hispidum extract by the comet assay revealed substantial damage to P. falciparum DNA. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the crude extract of A. hispidum DC, one of the plants used traditionally to treat malaria, inhibits the growth of P. falciparum in vitro and could be a potential source of antimalarial drug. The report has highlighted genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the selected plant extracts on human leukocytes as well.

Highlights

Malaria in humans is caused by five species of haemospozoan parasites, namely, Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovalae, and P. vivax and, lately, the Zoonotic P. knowlesi [1]
Effect of Extracts on the Growth of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 and Dd2 Strains. e inhibitory characteristics of the various extracts and the standard drug, artesunate, on the growth of the two strains of P. falciparum are presented in Figure 1 with the inhibitory concentration at 50% (IC50) presented in Table 1. e least concentration 6.51 μg/ml of each extract significantly inhibited the growth of either strain of P. falciparum used compared to the control (p < 0.001). e P. falciparum growth inhibition by A. boonei was concentration-dependent which ranges from 18.86% to 71.67% (Figure 1(a)). e highest concentration of 833.3 μg/ml inhibited the growth of the 3D7 parasite up to 71.67%, while in the case of Dd2, the percentage growth inhibition reached a maximum of 66.67%
In the case of the S. siamea Lam extract, the percentage growth inhibition of the 3D7 strain of P. falciparum ranges from 17.29% for the minimum 6.5 μg/ml to 79.11% (Figure 1(b)). e Morinda lucida Benth extract inhibited the growth of both strains of P. falciparum parasites used (Figures 1(a) and 1(b)). e least concentration of 6.5 μg/ml inhibited the growth of 3D7 up to 18.06% with the maximum concentration of 833.3 μg/ml inhibiting the parasite growth up to 61.94% (Figures 1(a))

Summary

Introduction

Malaria in humans is caused by five species of haemospozoan parasites, namely, Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovalae, and P. vivax and, lately, the Zoonotic P. knowlesi [1]. P. falciparum is the most widespread and causes the most lethal infection with the female mosquito of the Anopheles gambiae complex being responsible for the transmission of the disease [1]. Infection with the parasite may result in asymptomatic or clinical malaria [1] with about 2% of the clinical cases resulting in severe disease [2] that accounts for thousands of deaths attributed annually to malaria [1]. Mortality in children under five years of age is quite high, but the disease affects all Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine age groups, including pregnant women and nonimmune adults either residing in or visiting endemic areas. Spontaneous abortion, and stillbirth that are associated with placental malaria are some of the other effects of malaria on humans [1]

Methods

Results

Conclusion