Article · Volume 15, Issue 2 · pp. 288-296
Rubia cordifolia L. Crude Aerial Part Extracts Show a High Potential as Antimalarials against Chloroquine Resistant Plasmodium falciparum Strains in vitro
Magara Jeremiah1, Lucy Kamau1, Grace Nyambati2, Hastings Ozwara3
- 1Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, KENYA.
- 2Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, The Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, KENYA.
- 3Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, KENYA.
Abstract
Introduction: Plasmodium falciparum human malaria parasite is resistant to most available medicines in Africa, necessitating research for new drugs. Rubia cordifolia L. is used in traditional malaria treatment in Kenya despite no supporting scientific data.Objectives: To evaluate anti-plasmodial efficacy of extracts from the aerial part of Rubia cordifolia against chloroquine sensitive (3D7) and resistant (W2) Plasmodium falciparum strains.Methods: Hexane, methanol and water were separately used in crude extractions from open shade dried aerial plant parts. Phytochemical composition was determined qualitatively. Anti-plasmodial efficacy of serial dilutions (range; 0.4 to 50 μg/ml) of each extract were evaluated in vitro and compared using ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test, at pmethanol>aqueous and were attributed to the phytochemicals present in the extracts. This presents evidence of R. cordifolia as anti-malarial drugs’ source. Further work is required to identify, purify, and characterize active molecules for development of anti-malaria drugs.
Keywords: Antimalarial activity; Crude extracts; in vitro; Plasmodium falciparum; Rubia cordifolia
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