Rubia Cordifolia L. Crude Aerial Part Extracts Show a High Potential as Antimalarials against Chloroquine Resistant Plasmodium Falciparum Strains In Vitro
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Date
2023
Authors
Jeremiah, Magara
Kamau, Lucy
Nyambati, Grace
Ozwara, Hastings
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pharmacognosy Research
Abstract
Introduction: Plasmodium falciparum human malaria parasite is resistant to most available
medicines in Africa, necessitating research for new drugs. Rubia cordifolia L. is used in traditional
malaria treatment in Kenya despite no supporting scientific data. Objectives: To evaluate
anti-plasmodial efficacy of extracts from the aerial part of Rubia cordifolia against chloroquine
sensitive (3D7) and resistant (W2) Plasmodium falciparum strains. Methods: Hexane, methanol
and water were separately used in crude extractions from open shade dried aerial plant parts.
Phytochemical composition was determined qualitatively. Anti-plasmodial efficacy of serial
dilutions (range; 0.4 to 50 μg/ml) of each extract were evaluated in vitro and compared using
ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test, at p<0.05). Results: All the extracts significantly inhibited parasites
growth, in a dose dependent manner. At 50 μg/ml, inhibition was (84.07%, 77.94% and 66.08%)
for hexane, methanol and water extracts respectively against W2 and (80.06%, 78.36% and
60.92%) against 3D7 strain. Hexane extract showed IC50 0.551 μg/ml and 2.747 micrograms/ml
against W2 and 3D7 respectively. Methanol extract, IC50 1.231 and 3.528 μ g/ml respectively,
aqueous extract showed moderate activity, IC50 5.348 μg/ml and 17.341 μg/ml against the strains
respectively. Chloroquine resistant (W2 strain) was more responsive to the extracts than 3D7
strain. Conclusion: Anti-plasmodial activities were in the order, Hexane>methanol>aqueous
and were attributed to the phytochemicals present in the extracts. This presents evidence
of R. cordifolia as anti-malarial drugs’ source. Further work is required to identify, purify, and
characterize active molecules for development of anti-malaria drugs
Description
Article
Keywords
Antimalarial activity, Crude extracts, in vitro, Plasmodium falciparum, Rubia cordifolia
Citation
Jeremiah, M., Kamau, L., Nyambati, G., & Ozwara, H. (2023). Rubia cordifolia L. Crude Aerial Part Extracts Show a High Potential as Antimalarials against Chloroquine Resistant Plasmodium falciparum Strains in vitro. Pharmacognosy Research, 15(2).