In order to find local alternatives to expensive available antimalarial drugs and
solutions to the emergence of drug resistance of P. falciparum strains, we undertook the exploration of plants used against malaria in the traditional
pharmacopoeia from Benin. We studied samples of 11 plants from the Beninese flora,
to evaluate their antiplasmodial activity and their cytotoxicity. Lipophilic extracts
of two of the studied plants: Acanthospermum hispidum and Carpolobia lutea showed a very interesting in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine W
2 resistant strain with IC50 of 6.6µg/ml and 5.7µg/ml respectively; being less active on the 3D7 sensitive strain (IC50: 12.6µg/ml and 11.91µg/ml respectively). Two extracts from other plants showed cytotoxic
activity. The methanolic extract of Anchomanes difformis showed toxicity against Wi
38 (human embryonic fibroblast; IC50: 12.01µg/ml) and a lipophilic extract of Vernonia amygdalina against J774 (murine macrophages; IC50: 6.48µg/ml).
Acknowledgements: CUD (Coopération Universitaire au Développement)
