In vitro antiplasmodial activity of crude extracts from Togolese medicinal plants

ObjectiveTo investigate the antimalarial effect of a few plants in Togo folk medicine.MethodsAfter ethnobotanical survey, Opilia celtidifolia, Pavetta corymbosa (P. corymbosa) and Tamarindus indica (T. indica) were selected for screening. In vitro antimalarial tests were performed on crude extracts against fresh clinical isolates of Plasmodium falciparum using the semi microtest.ResultsDifferent IC₅₀ values of the extracts ranged from 2.042 to 100.000 μg/mL. According to the results, the methanol extract of aerial part of P. corymbosa followed by aqueous extract of fruit of T. indica were the most active (IC₅₀ of 2.042 and 4.786 μg/mL, respectively). Qualitative test revealed the presence of alkaloids in the leaves of P. corymbosa that may be responsible for the activity of the plant.ConclusionsOur study provides scientific evidence for usage of plant in the folk medicine, and further studies are needed for identification and purification of the active principles.