Background

Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease, which pose a public health challenge. Currently, reports of parasites resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies is widespread. This has renewed calls for new antimalarial medications including  herbal products for the treatment of malaria. This study was undertaken to scientifically assess the antiplasmodial potentials of Mist Amen Fevermix and Edhec Malacure, two polyherbal antimalarial products used for the management of uncomplicated malaria, and establish their phytochemical constituents.

Methods

Qualitative phytochemical screening based on standard analytical methods. The antiplasmodial activity was assessed in vitro by using Plasmodium falciparum. The SYBR® Green assay was used to measure parasite growth inhibition. In vivo activity was assessed with Plasmodium berghei parasites using the Rane’s curative method with artesunate as positive control.

Results

The phytochemical screening of the products revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannin, steroid and saponin. In the in vitro studies, the IC₅₀ values for Edhec Malacure was 70.89 ng/mL and 112.5ng/mL for Mist Amen Fevrmix. Artesunate exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 1.571ng/mL. Edhec Malacure suppressed parasitemia by 76.17% (at 4.25mg/kg^-1) and Mist Amen Fevermix by 69.03% (at 1.56 mg/kg^-1) in vivo.

Conclusion

Mist Amen Fevrmix and Edhec Malacure Mixture demonstrated antiplasmodial activity and may be useful alternative antimalarial agents.

ABSTRACT

Phytochemical screening was carried out using standard qualitative methods. The acute and sub-acute oral toxicity study was conducted as per OECD guidelines (423 and 407). The sub-acute oral toxicity study, aqeous and organic extracts were administered at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight daily for 28 days. Rats were monitored for adverse effects and mortality. Food intake, water intake, body weight, organ weight, hematological and biochemical parameters and organ histopathological changes were evaluated.

Qualitative phytochemical screening of the leaf extracts of C. rotundifolia established the presence of alkaloids, saponins, phenols, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides in the aqueous extract and saponins, phenols, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides in the organic extract. 2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight did not cause any mortality or signs of toxicity in the rats during the observation period. In sub-acute oral toxicity, there were no treatment related changes in the hematological and biochemical blood parameters. There were however significant differences in body weight and organ weight between the control and treated groups. Histopathological analysis of the liver and kidneys revealed non-significant changes. The was a non significant decline in food and water consumption. Cissus rotundifolia leaf extracts are safe when administered orally for long durations at doses lower than 400 mg/kg body weight. The LD50 of both extracts is more than 2000 mg/kg.

The present study was designed to investigate analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory, GI motility and cytotoxic activities of fruit extract of P.fascicularis L. The analgesic effect was evaluated by using the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Antipyretic study was done by yeast induced pyrexia. The cytotoxic activity was evaluated by using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The extracts are used for anti-inflammatory studies by albumin induced edema over a period of time. GI motility test was performed using charcoal. The methanolic, ethanolic and chloroform extracts show presence of maximum phytochemicals such as alkaloid, tannin, saponin, steroid, terpenoid, protein, flavonoid etc. The dose of 400mg/kg is capable of inhibiting 62.96% writhing in comparison to standard Diclofenac sodium. The initial and final rectal temperatures treated with chloroform extract (400 mg/kg) were 38.7±0.45ºC and 37.83±0.37ºC; where the values for Acetyl salicylic acid (100mg/kg) were 38.4±0.11ºC and 37.5±0.010ºC respectively. During cytotoxic bioassay LC50 value was found 1.0636 mg/ml. Oedema reduced from 0.62 ± 0.06 to 0.45 ± 0.02 after 5hr administering of chloroform extract (400 mg/kg), where aspirin did this from 0.60±.002 to 0.42±0.01 at 200mg/kg. The motility rates of castor oil and chloroform extract were 53.24%& 31.78% at 10 ml/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively, where the control showed 63.68% motility rate. These results show that, chloroform extract of fruit of P.fascicularis L. has significant analgesic, anti-pyretic, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and GI motility effects that increase with the increase of concentration. It can be assumed that, phytochemicals present, are the source of potency of the chloroform extract.