Anti-malarial Activity of Indian Medicinal Plant Extracts by Haemazoin Inhibition Assay

Abstract

Many traditional plants are promising source of antimalarial drugs. Present study is proposed to evaluate in vitro antimalarial effect of selected plant extracts. Methanol extract of nine plants were evaluated for antimalarial ac- tivity against Chloroquine-sensitive (MRC-2) and chloroquine-resistant (RKL-9) strains of P. falciparum. Evaluation was carried out by col- orimetric quantification of haemazoin inhibi- tion. Results indicated that all the plant extracts showed antimalarial activity in dose dependent manner. Methanol extract of E. hirta, E. thymifo- lia and B. variegate showed moderate antima- larial activity against MRC-2 and RKL-9 strains. Methanol extract of leaves of B. variegata demonstrated highest activity with lowest IC50 21.85 μg/mL and 26.51 μg/mL against MRC-2 and RKL-9, respectively amongst all extracts. This result potentially justifies the antimalarial use of this plant.