title: In vitro antiplasmodial activity and toxicity assessment of plant extracts used in traditional malaria therapy in the Lake Victoria Region.
abstract: As part of our program screening the flora of the Lake Victoria Region, a total of 54 organic extracts from seven plant families (8 species) were individually tested for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive [Sierra Leone (D-6)] and chloroquine-resistant [Vietnam (W-2)] strains. Only 22% of these extracts exhibited very high in vitro antiplasmodial activity. Six methanol (MeOH) extracts and one chloroform extract showed in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the D-6 Plasmodium falciparum strain, while only three MeOH extracts were active against the W-2 strain. All of the ethyl acetate extracts proved to be inactive against both strains of P. falciparum. A brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay was used to predict the potential toxicity of the extracts. The cytotoxicity to antiplasmodial ratios for the MeOH extracts were found to be greater than 100, which could indicate that the extracts are of low toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Kigali, Rwanda. tezakenga@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Teresa Akeng'a
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ayuko
authors.forename: Richard Njihia
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Njau
authors.forename: Wanjala
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.forename: Nyangasi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leah
authors.forename: Isiah Omollo
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Ndiege
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007630:Kenya; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts