title: Evaluation of the Antimalarial Effect ofFerulago angulata(Schlecht.) Boiss. Extract and Suberosin Epoxide AgainstPlasmodium bergheiin Comparison with Chloroquine Usingin-vivoTest.
abstract: Resistance to most antimalarial drugs has encouraged the development of novel drugs. An alternative source for discovering such drugs is natural products. SomeFerulagospecies are used in folk medicine for their sedative, tonic and anti-parasitic effects. Besides, coumarins isolated from this genus found to have in vitro anti-leishmanicidal effect. The present study is aimed to evaluate thein-vivoantimalarial activity ofFerulago angulata(Schlecht.) Boiss. extract and suberosin epoxide, using suarian mice. A rodent malaria parasite,Plasmodium bergheiwas used to inoculate healthy male Swiss Albino mice of age 6-8 weeks and weight 23-27 g. Hydro-alcoholic extract ofF. angulata(20, 100, 300, 600 mg/Kg) and suberosin epoxide suspension (10, 30, 50, 100 mg/Kg) were administered subcutaneously. Parameters including percentage of parasitemia, suppression of parasitemia and mean survival time were determined using standard test such as peter٬s. Chemo-protective effects were exerted by the crude extract and suberosin epoxide. Maximum effect was observed with the larger doses of the crude extract and suberosin epoxide. Suberosin epoxide increased the survival time compared to chloroquine. However, the results of this study indicate that the plant has a promising anti-plasmodial activity againstplasmodium berghei. Thus, it could be considered as a potential source of new antimalarial agents. Suberosin epoxide at the dose of 100 mg/Kg possesses relatively significant antimalarial effect. Chemical derivatization of the parent compound or preparation of the modified formulation is required to improve its systemic bioavailability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Ebrahim
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sajjadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pestechian
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mohaghegh
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hosseini-Safa
keywords: Antimalaria; Ferulago angulate; Plasmodium berghei; Suberosin epoxide