Planta Med 2006; 72 - P_015
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-949815

In vitro antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of ethnobotanically selected East African plants used for the treatment of malaria

S Froelich 1, B Onegi 2, A Kakooko 2, C Schubert 1, K Jenett-Siems 1
  • 1Institut für Pharmazie (Pharmazeutische Biologie), Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str.2–4, D-14195 Berlin, Germany. Fax: +49–30–83853729, E-mail: kjsiems@zedat.fu-berlin.de
  • 2Department of Pharmacy (Pharmacognosy Unit), Makere University, Kampala, Uganda

In Uganda, a variety of plant remedies is used by traditional healers to treat symptoms of malaria. Due to oral interviews, Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae), Aspilia africana (Asteraeae) and Momordica foetida (Cucurbitaceae) were selected for further evaluation.

Extracts were obtained by macerating air dried plant material collected near Kampala, Uganda, in equal volumes of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate and methanol (herb-solvent ratio 1:3, repeated twice), respectively. The crude extracts from roots and leaves, characterized by HPLC fingerprint chromatograms, were tested in vitro against the chloroquine-sensitive strain PoW (IC50 value for chloroquine=0.011µM) and a chloroquine-resistant strain Dd2 (IC50 value for chloroquine=0.12µM) of Plasmodium falciparum. The antiplasmodial activity was determined according to Desjardins et al. [1]. M. foetida showed significant antimalarial activity (IC50 values ranging from 7.3 to 13.0µg/mL), whereas the root extract of V. amygdalina and the leaf extract of A. africana displayed lower activities (IC50 values: 19.0 and 30.3µg/mL [PoW]).

Cytotoxicities of all extracts were determined against human hepatocellar carcinoma (HepG2) and human urinary bladder carcinoma (ECV-304) (derivative of T-24) cells [2]. The petroleum ether/ethyl acetate leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina showed the highest cytotoxicity.

Acknowledgements: Mrs. Ursula Friedrich (Institut für Pharmazie) for technical assistance in the cell-laboratory.

References: 1. Desjardins, R.E. et al. (1979), Antimicrobial Agents Chemother. 16: 710–718. 2. Mosmann, T. et al. (1983), J. Immunol. Methods 65: 55–63.