Screening of antiplasmodial properties among some traditionally used Iranian plants.
BACKGROUND
An investigation of plants was undertaken through interviews and literature surveys on plants used to treat malaria or cancer or microbial diseases in Iran.


OBJECTIVE
In vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial tests were carried out on selected plants traditionally used in Iran.


METHODS
Thirty-two plants were extracted with methanol and tested for their in vitro (pLDH assay) activity against Plasmodium falciparum, in vivo activity against Plasmodium berghei and assessed for any cytotoxicity against the human cancer cell line MCF7 and the normal cell MDBK.


RESULTS
Extracts from four plants, Buxus hyrcana Pojark. (Buxaceae), Erodium oxyrrhnchum M. Bieb. (Geraniaceae), Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae) and Ferula oopoda (Boiss and Bushe) Boiss. (Apiaceae) were found to have significant antiplasmodial activity (IC50 ranging from 4.7 to 26.6 microg/ml). These findings lend support to the use of Buxus hyrcana and Glycyrrhiza glabra in traditional medicine. The chloroformic fraction also was active against K1 and 3D7 strains. The chloroformic fraction was studied at 10 mg per kg body weight mouse per day. This fraction reduced parasitaemia by 86.1% compared to untreated control mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Glycyrrhiza glabra showed antiplasmodial activity and has selectivity for Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei when tested on mammalian cells. This is the first report that mentioned in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra.
Esmaeili
Somayeh
S
School of Pharmacy, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Naghibi
Farzaneh
F
Mosaddegh
Mahmoud
M
Sahranavard
Shamim
S
Ghafari
Saeideh
S
Abdullah
Noor Rain
NR
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*
D000962:Antimalarials; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts