In vitro antiplasmodial activity of some plants used in Kisii, Kenya against malaria and their chloroquine potentiation effects

F W Muregi; S C Chhabra; E N M Njagi; C C Lang'at-Thoruwa; W M Njue; A S S Orago; S A Omar; I O Ndiege

doi:10.1016/s0378-8741(02)00327-6

In vitro antiplasmodial activity of some plants used in Kisii, Kenya against malaria and their chloroquine potentiation effects

J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Feb;84(2-3):235-9. doi: 10.1016/s0378-8741(02)00327-6.

Authors

F W Muregi¹, S C Chhabra, E N M Njagi, C C Lang'at-Thoruwa, W M Njue, A S S Orago, S A Omar, I O Ndiege

Affiliation

¹ Biochemistry Department, Kenyatta University, PO Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya.

PMID: 12648820
DOI: 10.1016/s0378-8741(02)00327-6

Abstract

Fifty-five organic and aqueous extracts of 11 plants used in malaria therapy in Kisii District, Kenya were tested in vitro against chloroquine (CQ)-sensitive and resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Of the plants tested, 73% were active (IC(50) < 100 microg/ml). Three plants, Vernonia lasiopus, Rhamnus prinoides and Ficus sur afforded extracts with IC(50) values ranging less than 30 microg/ml against both CQ-sensitive and resistant strains. Combination of some extracts with CQ against the multi-drug resistant P. falciparum isolate V1/S revealed some synergistic effect. The plant extracts with low IC(50) values may be used as sources for novel antimalarial compounds to be used alone or in combination with CQ.

MeSH terms

Animals
Antimalarials / pharmacology*
Chloroquine / pharmacology*
Drug Resistance
Drug Synergism
Kenya
Medicine, African Traditional
Plant Extracts / pharmacology
Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*

Substances

Antimalarials
Plant Extracts
Chloroquine