title: Ethnomedicinal survey and in vitro anti-plasmodial activity of the palm Borassus aethiopum Mart.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malaria remains a major global health threat, with the heaviest burden of disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Effective treatment is not available in many affected areas, and the Plasmodium falciparum parasite is becoming resistant to existing drugs. Alternative therapies are necessary to overcome these challenges. Borassus aethiopum is the third most used palm species in traditional medicines in Africa. Yet, there is only limited information substantiating medicinal properties of the palm. The objective of this study was to document medicinal uses of B. aethiopum and investigate anti-plasmodial activity of the palm extracts used in traditional medicine to treat malaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The fieldwork and collection of samples was done in Ghana in the Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo, and Volta regions. Our ethnomedicinal survey did not specifically focus on medicinal uses against malaria; any medicinal application of B. aethiopum was of interest. Data collection employed a structured questionnaire, open-ended questions, and group discussion. The experimental extraction of samples was carried out using three common solvents: distilled water, absolute ethanol, and dichloromethane (CH2Cl2). Anti-plasmodial activity of compounds was determined against erythrocytic stages of the FCR3 strain of P. falciparum by a [3H]-hypoxanthine incorporation assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 37 use records were documented regarding the medicinal uses of B. aethiopum for the management of 24 different disorders. The highest medicinal use value was recorded for the use of B. aethiopum against malaria, and a subsequent laboratory investigation focused on evaluating anti-plasmodial activity of the palm. Several root and leaf extracts displayed anti-plasmodial activity, with the highest (78% at 50 μg/mL) elicited by one of the dichloromethane root extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate the value of integrating ethnobotanical and pharmacological research in the study of beneficial effects of palm products on human health. While the high inhibitory activity found in dichloromethane extracts cannot validate the ethnomedicinal use, the anti-plasmodial effect observed cannot be nullified. We brought preliminary evidence that this palm is a promising source of alternative medicines that could contribute to improving health conditions in malaria endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
authors.affiliation: Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus C DK 8000, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gruca
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, Aarhus C DK 8000, Denmark.
authors.forename: Wanwan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Ghana, School of Pharmacy, P.O. Box LG 43, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amoateng
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors.forename: Morten Agertoug
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, Aarhus C DK 8000, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.affiliation: Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus C DK 8000, Denmark. Electronic address: henrik.balslev@bios.au.dk.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Balslev
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028023:Arecaceae; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018517:Plant Roots; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Arecaceae; Ethnopharmacology; Ghana; Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum; Traditional medicine