In vitro antiplasmodial activity of plants used in Benin in traditional medicine to treat malaria

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2009.02.004

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Volume 122, Issue 3, 21 April 2009, Pages 439-444

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2009.02.004 Get rights and content

Abstract

Aim of the study

The aim of the study was to evaluate the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of crude extracts of 12 plant species traditionally used in Benin for the treatment of malaria in order to validate their use.

Materials and methods

For each species, dichloromethane, methanol and total aqueous extracts were tested. The antiplasmodial activity of extracts was evaluated using the measurement of the plasmodial lactate dehydrogenase activity on chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The selectivity of the different extracts was evaluated using the MTT test on J774 macrophage-like murine cells and WI38 human normal fibroblasts.

Results

The best growth inhibition of both strains of Plasmodium falciparum was observed with the dichloromethane extracts of Acanthospermum hispidum DC. (Asteraceae) (IC₅₀ = 7.5 μg/ml on 3D7 and 4.8 μg/ml on W2), Keetia leucantha (K. Krause) Bridson (syn. Plectronia leucantha Krause) (Rubiaceae) leaves and twigs (IC₅₀ = 13.8 and 11.3 μg/ml on 3D7 and IC₅₀ = 26.5 and 15.8 μg/ml on W2, respectively), Carpolobia lutea G.Don. (Polygalaceae) (IC₅₀ = 19.4 μg/ml on 3D7 and 8.1 μg/ml on W2) and Strychnos spinosa Lam. (Loganiaceae) leaves (IC₅₀ = 15.6 μg/ml on 3D7 and 8.9 μg/ml on W2). All these extracts had a low cytotoxicity.

Conclusion

Our study gives some justifications for the traditional uses of some investigated plants.

Introduction

Plasmodium species are protozoan parasites responsible for malaria, an illness killing about 1–2 million people per year (WHO, 2005). Among the four types of human pathogenic parasites, Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous species. The very high prevalence of this disease and the resistance of parasites to cheap treatments have led to the search for new antimalarial compounds, particularly in plants used in traditional medicine, as a source of new leads with new mechanism of action, such as artemisinin from Artemisia annua (Asteraceae) (Klayman, 1985). Thus, we investigated traditional treatment used in Benin to fight malaria. We selected 12 plants which were not or only partially evaluated for their antiplasmodial activity in a list of 88 traditional remedies used to cure malaria by traditional healers in Benin, compiled by the “Direction de la Protection Sanitaire” of the Benin Ministry of Health. Each species was macerated with dichloromethane, methanol and water. Crude extracts were evaluated for their antiplasmodial activity in vitro and their selectivity determined on two mammalian cell lines.

Section snippets

Plant material

Plant materials (leaves, twigs, aerial parts and roots) were collected from the South of Benin, especially from Abomey-Calavi (South-West) to the border area with Nigeria (South-East) between July 2006 and September 2006. Voucher specimens were identified and deposited at the Herbier National of Abomey-Calavi University in Benin and at the Herbarium of the National Botanic Garden of Belgium, at Meise (see Table 1).

Preparation of crude plant extracts and alkaloid fraction

Leaves, twigs, roots or aerial parts of plant extracts were prepared by

Results

The 12 plants traditionally used were extracted to give 42 extracts. In vitro antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of these extracts are summarized in Table 2.

Concerning the antiplasmodial activity on 3D7, we observed that 5 extracts could be considered as good with IC₅₀ values ≤20 μg/ml, 10 had a moderate activity with IC₅₀ values between 21 and 60 μg/ml, 2 showed a low activity with IC₅₀ values between 60 and 100 μg/ml and 25 may be considered as inactive with IC₅₀ >100 μg/ml. The effects of

Acanthospermum hispidum

The present study showed an antiplasmodial activity of the lipophilic extract, on 3D7 strain (IC₅₀ = 7.5 μg/ml) and W2 strain (IC₅₀ = 4.8 μg/ml). This activity is in agreement with those obtained by Sanon et al. (2003a) (IC₅₀ ∼ 10 μg/ml of a chloroformic extract tested on W2 strain). In addition this extract has only a moderate cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ > 30 μg/ml) on the two cell lines tested (WI38 and J774). Sanon et al. (2003b) showed that this activity was concentrated in the alkaloid fraction (IC₅₀ ∼ 5 μg/ml)

Conclusions

Our study presents elements to justify the traditional use of some investigated plants to treat malaria in Benin. The dichloromethane extracts of Acanthospermum hispidum aerial parts, Keetia leucantha (leaves and twigs), Carpolobia lutea aerial parts and Strychnos spinosa leaves showed promising antiplasmodial activities towards both strains and have selectivity indices of 3.4 to >8.8 which are the highest found among all extracts. The dichloromethane extracts of Schrankia leptocarpa leaves and

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Mr. Agabani (botanist of University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin) for plant collections as well as Professor Elmar Robbrecht and Olivier Lachenaud (botanists of National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Meise, Belgium) for clarifying botanical information. We wish to thank Marie-Christine Fayt for her skillful technical assistance. We would also like to thank the Malaria's team from University of Liege for cell lines and continuous culture.

The authors gratefully thank

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¹: These authors contributed equally to this work.

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In vitro antiplasmodial activity of plants used in Benin in traditional medicine to treat malaria

Abstract

Aim of the study

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Section snippets

Plant material

Preparation of crude plant extracts and alkaloid fraction

Results

Acanthospermum hispidum

Conclusions

Acknowledgements

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Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Germacranolides and a new type of guaianolide from Acanthospermum hispidum

Journal of Natural Products

Antiplasmodial activities and cytotoxic effects of aqueous extracts and sesquiterpene lactones from Neurolaena lobata

Planta Medica