title: [Antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity of hydroalcoholic extracts from six plant species used in Cuban traditional medicine].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malaria is the most important parasitic disease for global health. Lack of the structural diversity in current antimalarials demands the urgent search for new therapeutic alternatives. The plants have shown their potential to provide effective antimalarials, therefore, a large sample of Cuban medicinal plants is being studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate antimalarial activity of extracts from six plant species and to determine their selectivity by meassuring cytotoxicity against human cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hydroalcoholic extracts from Annona glabra L., Bidens pilosa L., Cecropia peltata L., Curcuma longa L., Hura crepitans L. and Pluchea odorata (L.) Cass. were prepared. Their activity was evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum and human fibroblasts MRC-5. The mean inhibitory concentration, the mean cytotoxic concentration and the selectivity index were estimated. A preliminary phytochemical screening of the most active extract was made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  H. cre-pitans extract was the only one that showed good antiplasmodial activity (mean inhibitory concentration of 5,7 microg/mL) with excellent selectivity (selectivity index of 18,8). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, alkaloids, quinones, flavonoids and anthocyanidins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One extract with potent antimalarial activity in vitro was obtained. This result is an incentive to continue studying this vegetal preparation.
authors: Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kouri" (IPK), La Habana, Cuba. ayme@ipk.sld.cu
authors: Aymé Fernández-Calienes
authors: AF
authors: Valdés
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Mendiola Martínez
authors: Deyanira
authors: D
authors: Acuña Rodríguez
authors: Yamira
authors: Y
authors: Caballero Lorenzo
authors: Ramón
authors: R
authors: Scull Lizama
authors: Yamilet
authors: Y
authors: Gutiérrez Gaitén
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003462:Cuba; D000431:Ethanol; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol