In Vitro Antiplasmodial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers of Western Cameroon

Medicinal plants play a key role in malaria control in Africa, especially in remote areas where health facilities are limited. In order to assess their acclaimed potentials, eleven extracts were prepared from seven selected plants commonly used in Western Cameroon, and tested both for their antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity. The antiplasmodial activity was assessed using Lactate Dehydrogenase Assay (pLDH) and the cytotoxicity estimated on LLC-MK2 monkey kidney epithelial cells. Seven extracts from five different plants were significantly active, with very weak or no cytotoxicity. The Dacryodes edulis leaves showed the highest activity (IC(50) of 6.45 μg/mL on 3D7 and 8.2 μg/mL on DD2) followed by the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina (IC(50) of 8.72 and 11.27 μg/mL on 3D7 and DD2 resp.) and roots of V. amygdalina (IC(50) of 8.72 μg/mL on 3D7), Coula edulis leaves (IC(50) of 13.80 μg/mL and 5.79 μg/mL on 3D7 and DD2 resp.), Eucalyptus globulus leaves (IC(50) of 16.80 μg/mL and 26.45 μg/mL on 3D7 and DD2) and Cuviera longiflora stem bark (IC(50) of 20.24 μg/mL and 13.91 μg/mL on 3D7 and DD2). These findings justify the use of five of the seven plants in malaria treatment by traditional healers of Western Cameroon.