title: Antiplasmodial activity of four Kenyan medicinal plants.
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.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Omulokoli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chhabra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D007630:Kenya; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D002738:Chloroquine