Resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to current antimalarial compounds has drastically increased during the last few years and is now a major public health problem. We have studied plants traditionally used in Africa against malaria. Extracts of the tubercles of Cochlospermum tinctorium A. Rich, commonly used in Burkina Faso, were tested in vitro on 2 strains of P. falciparum, one (FcB1-Colombia) chloroquine resistant and the other (F32-Tanzania) chloroquine sensitive. Extracts were obtained by infusion and decoction. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were determined by measuring [3H]hypoxanthine incorporation and also by microscopical examination which permitted the determination of parasite stages. We obtained similar results with fresh extracts, frozen extracts, and lyophilized extracts of C. tinctorum. IC50 values were of the order of 1-2 micrograms/mL, about one-tenth of those reported for extracts of neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) and about half the values reported for Artemisia annua extracts.

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'Saye', a traditional medicine used in Burkina Faso, which consists of extracts of Cochlospermum planchonii (rhizome), Cassia alata (leaf) and Phyllanthus amarus (whole plant), showed a significant effect against Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei parasites grown in vivo (IC(50) = 80.11 +/- 3.40 microg/mL; ED(50) = 112.78 +/- 32.32 mg/kg). In vitro the activity was lower.

The dichloromethane/methanol leaf extract of Cassia alata had a good to moderate in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity and was found to have low toxicity at high doses in tested animals.

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