title: In vitro antiplasmodial effect of ethanolic extracts of coastal medicinal plants along Palk Strait against Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the possible antiplasmodial compounds from Achyranthes aspera (A. aspera), Acalypha indica (A. indica), Jatropha glandulifera (J. glandulifera) and Phyllanthus amarus (P. amarus).
  
  
  METHODS
  The A. aspera, A. indica, J. glandulifera and P. amarus were collected along Palk Strait and the extraction was carried out in ethanol. The filter sterilized extracts (100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125 µg/mL) of leaf, stem, root and flower extracts of A. aspera, A. indica, J. glandulifera and P. amarus were tested for antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. The potential extracts were also tested for their phytochemical constituents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the selected plants species parts, the stem extract of A. indica showed excellent antiplasmodial activity (IC50= 43.81µg/mL) followed by stem extract of J. glandulifera (IC50= 49.14µg/mL). The stem extract of A. aspera, leaf and root extracts of A. indica, leaf, root and seed extracts of J. glandulifera and leaf and stem extracts of P. amarus showed IC50 values between 50 and 100 µg/mL. Statistical analysis revealed that, significant antiplasmodial activity (P<0.01) was observed between the concentrations and time of exposure. The chemical injury to erythrocytes was also carried out and it showed that there were no morphological changes in erythrocytes by the ethanolic extract of all the tested plant extracts. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity might be due to the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, triterpenoids, proteins, and tannins in the ethanolic extracts of tested plants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ethanolic stem extracts of P. amarus and J. glandulifera possess lead compounds for the development of antiplasmodial drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oceanography and Coastal Area Studies, School of Marine Sciences, Alagappa University, Thondi Campus, Thondi - 623 409, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Samuel Jacob
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Inbaneson
authors.forename: Sundaram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravikumar
authors.forename: Palavesam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suganthi
mesh_terms: D029044:Achyranthes / Q000737:chemistry*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007194:India; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Acalypha indica; Achyranthes aspera; Antiplasmodial activity; IC50; Jatropha glandulifera; Medicinal plants; Phyllanthus amarus; Phytochemicals; Plasmodium falciparum