Purpose: To investigate the antiplasmodial and antitrypanosomal properties of extracts from Anthocleista djalonensis A. Chev. (Gentianaceae), Vernonia cinerea Less (Asteraceae), and Pycnanthus angolensis Welw. (Myristicaceae). Methods: Cell growth inhibitory activities were measured using Trypanosoma brucei (10⁶ – 10⁷ parasites/mL in HMI-9 or SDM-79 medium) and Plasmodium falciparum strain 3D7 (0.1 –10 % parasitemia and 10⁸ parasites/mL in culture). An IC50 value less than 10 μg/mL was required for activity. Results: Viability of P. falciparum and T. brucei was significantly reduced when exposed to extracts of A. djalonensis and P. angolensis at 25 μg/mL (p < 0.05), with extract of V. cinerea demonstrating less antiplasmodial activity. Furthermore, crude extracts of A. djalonensis, V. cinerea, and P. angolensis demonstrated strong anti-trypanosomal activity with IC50 values of 0.0036, 2.818, and 4.677 μg/mL,respectively. Conclusion: The study reveals the antiplasmodial and antitrypanosomal properties of A. djalonensis, V. cinerea, and P. angolensis highlighting the need for further investigation of their constituents.
Okoro et al. (Thu,) studied this question.