Abstract:
As part of our program screening the flora of the Lake Victoria Region, a total of 54 organic extracts from seven
plant families (8 species) were individually tested for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive [Sierra
Leone (D-6)] and chloroquine-resistant [Vietnam (W-2)] strains. Only 22% of these extracts exhibited very high in
vitro antiplasmodial activity. Six methanol (MeOH) extracts and one chloroform extract showed in vitro antiplasmodial
activity against the D-6 Plasmodium falciparum strain, while only three MeOH extracts were active against the
W-2 strain. All of the ethyl acetate extracts proved to be inactive against both strains of P. falciparum. A brine shrimp
cytotoxicity assay was used to predict the potential toxicity of the extracts. The cytotoxicity to antiplasmodial ratios
for the MeOH extracts were found to be greater than 100, which could indicate that the extracts are of low toxicity.
