Antimalarial Activity of Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh) against Plasmodium berghei NK 65 in Mastomys natalensis

Andrographis paniculata (kalmegh), a plant used extensively in the Indian traditional systems of medicine as a hepatoprotective and a hepatostimulative agent, was studied in a four day suppressive test against Plasmodium berghei NK 65 in Mastomys natalensis. A crude ethanol extract and fractions reduced the level of parasitaemia in a dose-dependent manner. Four diterpenes, isolated from the n-butanol fraction, also suppressed the parasitaemia level, but not in a dose-dependent manner. Chemoprophylactic activity of neoandrographolide was tested using different protocols. Fifteen days of therapy with neoandrographolide before infection suppressed the parasitaemia.