Evaluating Antiplasmodial and Antimalarial Activities of Soybean (Glycine max) Seed Extracts on P. falciparum Parasite Cultures and P. berghei-Infected Mice.

Kevin Nyandwaro,Job Oyweri,Amos Mbugua,Francis Kimani

doi:10.1155/2020/7605730

Abstract

Background Plasmodium parasite resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) calls for development of new, affordable, safe, and effective antimalarial drugs. Studies conducted previously on soybean extracts have established that they possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancerous, and antioxidant properties. The activity of such extracts on Plasmodium parasite resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) calls for development of new, affordable, safe, and effective antimalarial drugs. Studies conducted previously on soybean extracts have established that they possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancerous, and antioxidant properties. The activity of such extracts on Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the antiplasmodial activity of soybean extracts using Plasmodium falciparum cultures, followed by an in vivo evaluation of safety and antimalarial activity of the extracts in Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain-infected mice. Method Aqueous, methanol, and peptide extracts of soybean seeds were prepared. An in vitro evaluation of the extracts for antiplasmodial activity was carried out using two P. falciparum strains: D6, a chloroquine-sensitive Sierra Leone 1 strain and W2, a chloroquine-resistant Indochina 1 strain. Following the in vitro evaluation of the extracts for antiplasmodial activity was carried out using two in vivo evaluation of safety and antimalarial activity of the extracts in P. berghei ANKA strain. The two extracts were tested for their therapeutic potential (curative test). The peptide extract was further assessed to determine whether it could prevent the establishment of a P. berghei ANKA strain. The two extracts were tested for their therapeutic potential (curative test). The peptide extract was further assessed to determine whether it could prevent the establishment of a P. berghei ANKA strain. The two extracts were tested for their therapeutic potential (curative test). The peptide extract was further assessed to determine whether it could prevent the establishment of a Results Peptide and methanol extracts showed good activity with IC50 of 19.97 ± 2.57 μg/ml and 10.14 ± 9.04 μg/ml and 10.14 ± 9.04 μg/ml and 10.14 ± 9.04 μg/ml and 10.14 ± 9.04 P < 0.001) in suppression with lower doses. Conclusion The results show the presence of antimalarial properties in soybean extracts with higher curative activity when compared to the prophylactic activity. However, more research needs to be conducted on this plant to possibly establish lead compounds.

Highlights

Malaria cases are approximately 300 million each year with about one million deaths [1]
Chloroquine- (CQ-) sensitive (D6) and CQ-resistant (W2) P. falciparum strains were used to assess the antiplasmodial activity of soybean extract and fraction of erythrocytic stages in vitro. e cultures were maintained at the Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development (CBRD) at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). e P. falciparum cultures were maintained according to the method described by Trager and Jensen [18] with minor modifications
Eight qualitative chemical tests were performed on the three soybean extracts to determine the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, and terpenoids. e results showed presence of steroids, alkaloids, and saponins in the aqueous extract and methanol extract (Table 2)

Summary

Background

Plasmodium parasite resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) calls for development of new, affordable, safe, and effective antimalarial drugs. Following the in vitro assessment, two active extracts (peptide and methanol) were selected for in vivo assay with mice infected with P. berghei ANKA strain. E peptide extract was further assessed to determine whether it could prevent the establishment of a P. berghei infection (prophylactic test). Methanol and peptide extracts were separately administered orally to three groups of five P. berghei-infected Swiss albino mice for four days, at three dosage levels: 800, 400, and 200 mg/kg/day. Methanol and peptide extracts exhibited high parasite-suppressive (therapeutic) activity of 72.9% and 71.9%, respectively, using the 800 mg/kg dose. E results show the presence of antimalarial properties in soybean extracts with higher curative activity when compared to the prophylactic activity. More research needs to be conducted on this plant to possibly establish lead compounds

Introduction

Results

Discussion