Invitro Antimalarial Activity of Thelgate (Aristolochia Bracteolata Lam) Plant Isolated From Juba, South Sudan

Abstract

Introduction: Aristolochia bracteolata lam is an important medicinal plant used by herbalists in South Sudan to treat various ailments that include fever, worms, headaches, body aches and diarrhoea. A recent study found that petroleum ether/ chloroform leaves and roots extracts were able to inhibit growth of P. falciparum invitro. However, the antimalarial activity of boiled leaves or roots prepared traditionally which is still commonly used has not been evaluated.

Aim of the study: This study therefore sort to examine the antimalarial activity of Aristolochia bracteolata lam against Plasmodium falcipurum in vitro

Materials and methods: Leaves, stem, fruit, roots were extracted using various solvents (petroleum ether, methanol and water) and a traditional preparation of leaves and roots was also included. These were then tested for antimalaria activity against chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 parasites cultured in vitro in human blood group O+ erythrocytes.

Results: All tested plant extracts were found to exhibit antiplasmodic activity with petroleum ether and traditional water extracts showing the highest inhibitory concentration against in vitro cultured P. falciparum with an IC50 <0.5µg/ml.

Conclusion: The results from this study, further provide scientific evidence for the traditional use of A. braceoteolata in the treatment of malaria in South Sudan.  Further bioassay guided chromatographic fractionation of extracts is required for the isolation and purification of antimalarial compounds.