Antiplasmodial activity of four Kenyan medicinal plants

J Ethnopharmacol. 1997 Apr;56(2):133-7. doi: 10.1016/s0378-8741(97)01521-3.

Abstract

A preliminary antiplasmodial and phytochemical screening of four Kenyan medicinal plants was carried out. The medicinal plants were extracted and tested for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (K67) and chloroquine-resistant (ENT36) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Out of 16 extracts, 12 were active against ENT36 strain while seven were active against K67 strain, that is, IC50 < or = 50 micrograms/ml. The most active extracts on both strains were those of leaves of Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir, and Suregada zanzibariensis Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) with IC50 < or = 10 micrograms/ml. The stembark of Terminalia spinosa Engl. (Combretaceae) and the stems of Dissotis brazzae Cogn. (Melastomataceae) had IC50 < or = 10 micrograms/ml for strains K67 and ENT36, respectively. A preliminary phytochemical analysis of these plants revealed the presence of different classes of primary and secondary metabolites.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Chloroquine / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance
  • Kenya
  • Lethal Dose 50
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Plant Extracts
  • Water
  • Chloroquine