OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiplasmodial properties of 13 plants used against malaria in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso.

METHODS

In vitro antiplasmodial activity of dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous crude extracts obtained from vegetal samples collected in Burkina Faso was first evaluated on the Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 chloroquine-sensitive strain using a colorimetric method.

RESULTS

Thirteen extracts obtained from 8 different species were found to exhibit antiplasmodial activity (IC(50)<50 microg/ml). Five species demonstrated a moderate activity (15 microg/ml<IC(50)<50 microg/ml): Boswellia dalzielii (leaves), Waltheria indica (roots and aerial parts), Bergia suffruticosa (whole plant), Vitellaria paradoxa (bark) and Jatropha gossypiifolia (leaves). The best results were obtained with extracts from the Dicoma tomentosa whole plant, from Psorospermum senegalense leaves and from Gardenia sokotensis leaves. These extracts found to display promising antiplasmodial activity, with IC(50) values ranging from 7.0 to 14.0 microg/ml. The most active plant extracts were then tested for in vitro activity on the Plasmodium falciparum W2 chloroquine-resistant strain and also for in vitro cytotoxicity on normal human fibroblasts (WI-38) in order to determine the selectivity index.

CONCLUSIONS

Dicoma tomentosa (Asteraceae) and Psorospermum senegalense (Clusiaceae) appeared to be the best candidates for further investigation of their antiplasmodial properties, reported for the first time by this study.