Evaluation of the antimalarial activity of Curcuma longa Linn., singly and in combination with Eupatorium odoratum Linn.

Abstract

Following the observation of in vitro anti-malarial activity of the ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa Linn., the active compound was isolated from its rhizome and detected in vitro, the results showed that schizont suppression of 62.63% even at the lowest concentration 0.625 µg/ml on human malaria with IC50 values of <0.625ug/ml. Another test sample extract of Eupatorium odoratum Linn, revealed that the significant antimalarial activity with IC50 value of 0.8581 ug/ml. The combination of C. longa and E. odoratum was found to be IC50 of <0.625 µg/ml showing their probable synergistic effect on the human malaria parasite. The extract and isolated compound of C. longa was further tested for their antimalarial activity using Plasmodium berghei mouse model. The highest in vivo parasite suppression was found to be 67.9% and 72.97% at the dosage of 50 mg/kg body weight for C. longa extract and isolated compound respectively. Moreover, brine shrimp toxicity test and in vivo toxicity test in mice showed no lethal effect of both C. longa and E. odoratum at the tested concentration which is moderately high. The results showed that both plant samples are potentially safe and possess prospective anti-malarial activity. It can be used as a single or combination.