Antiplasmodial activity of four Kenyan medicinal plants - Journal of EthnoPharmacology, 56(2), p.133-137, 1997 .

A preliminary antiplasmodial and phytochemical screening of four Kenyan medicinal plants was carried out. The medicinal plants were extracted and tested for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (K67)and chloroquine-resistant (ENT36)strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Out of 16 extracts, 12 were active against ENT36 strain while seven were active against K67 strain, that is, IC50 = 50 g/ml. The most active extracts on both strains were those of leaves of Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir. and Suregada zanzibariensis Baill. (Euphorbiaceae)with IC50 = 10 g/ml. The stembark of Terminalia spinosa Engl. (Combretaceae)and the stems of Dissotis brazzae Cogn. (Melastomataceae)had IC50 = 10 g/ml for strains K67 and ENT36, respectively. A preliminary phytochemical analysis of these plants revealed the presence of different classes of primary and secondary metabolites.


PLANT EXTRACTS
ANTIPLASMODIAL
PHYTOCHEMISTRY
PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM
PHYLLANTHUS RETICULATUS
SUREGADA ZANZIBARIENSIS
TERMINALIA SPINOSA
DISSOTIS BRAZZAE