Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the antiplasmodial effects of eleven plants (Bombax buonopozense, Carica papaya, Anthocleista djalonensis, Milicia excelsa, Heterotis rotundifolia, Homalim letestui, Starchystarpheta cayennnensis, Ocimum gratissimum, Cleistopholis patens, Chromolaena odorata and Hippocratea africana) reportedly used in the treatment of malaria in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.
 Methods: Phytochemical analysis was done by standard methods, while in vitro antiplasmodial evaluation was carried out using Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquineresistant strains using lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay. Cytotoxicity test was undertaken by MTT assay on LLC-MK2 cells and the concentration killing 50 % of the cells (CC50) was calculated.Antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay.
 Results: Milicia excelsa, Heterotis rotundifolia and Chromolaena odorata had moderate antiplasmodial activity. Ocimum gratissimum and Hippocratea africana were weakly active. Milicia excelsa showed a considerable level of cytotoxicity, while Bombax buonopozense exhibited moderate cytotoxicity. Bombax buonopozense (95.3 %) and Ocimum gratissimum (92.0 %) exhibited high DPPH scavengingeffect comparable to Vitamin C (98.7 %). There was a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between DPPH inhibition and the total phenolic contents of the eleven plants studied (r2 = 0.6616), between DPPH inhibition and flavonoids (r2 = 0.3553), between antiplasmodial activity and saponin content (r2= 0.3992), and between the two antiplasmodial evaluation assay methods (r2 = 0.614).Conclusion: The results of this work provide some justification for the use of Milicia excelsa, Heterotis rotundifolia, Chromolaena odorata, Ocimum gratissimum and Hippocratea africana in the treatment of malaria.
 Keywords: Antiplasmodial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, Phytochemicals, Antimalaria
Highlights
World estimate of infections and mortality from malaria annually is 500 million and 2.7 million, respectively
The result of this study showed that Milicia excelsa possessed in vitro antiplasmodial activity, thereby justifying the ethnobotanical use of the plant extract for the treatment of malaria
This study shows that the ethanol leaf extract of Heterotis rotundifolia plant possesses moderate antiplasmodial activity
Summary
World estimate of infections and mortality from malaria annually is 500 million and 2.7 million, respectively. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antiplasmodial potential of eleven plants used in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria, for the treatment of malaria. Stock solutions were prepared by dissolving 2 mg dry crude extracts in 200 μL dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) from Sigma (MO, USA) and diluting with complete culture medium to make 2000 μg/mL. In vitro antiplasmodial activity of the extracts were evaluated using parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay. Different concentrations of extracts were incubated with non-synchronized 1% parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs) at 2% hematocrit (hct) in 96 well microtiter plates (Costar®, Corning, NY, USA). Stock solutions were prepared by dissolving 1 mg dry crude extracts in 200 μL DMSO (Sigma MO, USA) and diluting with cell culture medium to make 100 μg/mL.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
