Antiplasmodial Activity of Leaf Extracts of Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl.
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Date
2014-03
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Abstract
Background: Medicinal herbs have long been used in the treatment of malaria in the
endemic tropical and subtropical regions of the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa
where malaria has remained as a top killer disease to children under five years and
expectant mothers. Among the herbs commonly used in Uganda to treat malaria is
Zanthoxylum chalybeum (ZC) root-bark and to a lesser extent its leaves. However, the
continued use of the root-bark has led to plant extinction due to the destructive method of
harvesting the herb as opposed to the leaves.
Aim: The study investigated the antiplasmodial activity of the crude ether and methanol
leaf extracts of ZC with chloroquine diphosphate as a positive control.
Materials and Methods: The in vitro Micro-Test (MARK III) kit was used to determine the
antiplasmodial activity of Z. chalybeum Engl. ether and methanol extracts. The effective concentration that caused a 50% P. falciparum schizonts suppression (EC50) values were
determined. The antiplasmodial activities of the ether and methanol extracts were
expressed as 50% effective concentration (EC50) that was determined from doseresponse
curve by non-linear regression analysis (curve-fit) using GraphPad Prism
(version 6) software at 95% confidence intervals.
Results: The results showed that ether extract of ZC had EC50 value of 13.39 (95% CI:
10.82 – 16.59) μg/ml and methanol extract had EC50 value of 8.10 (95% CI: 5.89 – 11.12)
μg/ml. The chloroquine diphosphate, standard had EC50 value of 25.33 (95% CI: 17.07 –
37.60) μg/ml.
Conclusion: The ether and methanol extracts of Z. chalybeum Engl. contains
compounds that caused Plasmodium falciparum schizonts suppression at a lower
concentration, hence the continued use of the herb by the traditional herbalist and local
communities in Uganda, in the treatment of malaria.
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Keywords
Plasmodium falciparum, EC50, Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl, leaf extract malaria
Citation
Bbosa Godfrey S, Mwebaza Norah, Lubega Aloysius, Musisi Nathan, Kyegombe David B, Ntale Muhammad. Antiplasmodial Activity of Leaf Extracts of Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2014 Mar; 4(6): 705-713.