Evaluation of three medicinal plant extracts against <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> and selected microganisms

Abstract

Background: A great revival of scientific interests in drug discovery has been witnessed in recent years from medicinal plants for health maintenance. The aim of this work was to investigate three Nigerian medicinal plants collected in Nigeria for their in vitro antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities. Materials and Methods: Extracts obtained from parts of Persea americana, Jatropha podagrica and Picralima nitida and their fractions were evaluated for in vitro antiprotozoal and antimicrobial activity. Result: The methanol extract of P. nitida demonstrated activity against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum clones with IC 50 values of 6.3 and 6.0 µg/mL, respectively. Methanol and chloroform extracts of P. americana seed showed antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans IC 50 less than 8 and 8.211 µg/mL respectively. Finally, the petroleum ether extract of P. americana had activity against methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with an IC 50 value of 8.7 µg/mL. Conclusion: The study revealed the antibacterial and antiplasmodial activities of the plants extracts at the tested concentrations.

Characterization of Malaria Preventive Extracts from Myrsine africana Seeds

“…This indicates that methanol is the most suitable solvent for extraction of antiplasmodial groups from M. africana seeds. Similar findings were observed by Falodun et al [36] whereby the methanolic extracts gave the best anti-plasmodial activity. Alongside DMSO and chloroform solvents, methanol have over a long period been used in extraction of various anti-plasmodial compounds from plants [37].…”

“…All the extracts had considerably long carbon chains with regard to the pronounced sp 3 C-H peaks between 2800-2900 cm -1 . Similar peaks were observed in the extracts of Persea americana, Jatropha podagrica and Picralima nitida plants with antiplasmodial potential [31]. The three FT-IR spectra of M. africana seeds are illustrated in Fig.…”

“…Falodun et al [36] found the methanolic extracts of P. americana and Jatropha podagrica extracts used for malaria prevention to have similar inhibitions to S. aureus as those in Table 5. Optimal inhibitions were observed at IC 50 8.695 mg/ml and 35.189 mg/ml concentrations [36]. The two extracts however showed less inhibition towards E. coli bacteria.…”

A review on medicinal plant extracts and their active ingredients against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus

“…In a study by Razmavar et al on Baeckea frutescens L. plant from this family, the findings revealed that the leaf extract of this plant has active ingredients, including flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, phenols and carbohydrates. The antibacterial activity of this extract is related to these compounds (79). The ethanol extract of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa showed good antibacterial activity.…”

Protective Role of Picralima nitida Seed Extract in High-Fat High-Fructose-Fed Rats

“…Although this study did not focus on the bioactive compounds present in this plant, several studies have previously shown that various extracts of this plant are good sources of phytochemicals [ 26 , 27 , 30 , 33 , 70 ]. More specifically, the seed extract of the P. nitida has been reported to contain glycosides, alkaloids, triterpenes flavonoids, polyphenols, saponins, and tannins [ 31 , 33 , 35 ].…”