In vitro antimalarial activity of extracts of three plants used in the traditional medicine of India.
In an attempt to search for new antimalarial drugs, we studied plants used by traditional healers of southwest India to treat malaria. Aqueous and organic solvent extracts obtained from specific parts of the plants Swertia chirata, Carica papaya, and Citrus sinensis were tested on malaria strain Plasmodium falciparum FCK 2 in vitro. The temperatures of extraction were the same as that used by the traditional healers in their plant preparations. Visual evaluation of the antimalarial activity of the plant extracts on thin blood smears was followed by quantification of the activity by use of [35S]-methionine incorporation into parasite proteins to determine the value that inhibits 50% (IC50). Among the 3 plants tested, 2 had significant inhibitory effect on P. falciparum in vitro.
Bhat
G P
GP
Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, Karnataka State, India.
Surolia
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D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029441:Carica; D002957:Citrus; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D029967:Swertia
D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts