Evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of extracts from medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in Kagera and Lindi regions, Tanzania
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Date
2015
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Publisher
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science
Abstract
A number of medicinal plants used for treatment of malaria in Tanzania have been documented, but information
on their safety and efficacy is still based on traditional knowledge accumulated over years and not on pre-clinical
and clinical evaluation. The present study aimed to assess the cytotoxic activity of extracts of selected plant
species used for treatment of malaria in Tanzania. Ethanol extracts were evaluated for cytoxicity by using MTT
assay on LLC-MK2 cells and by brine shrimp lethality assay. Forty five (93.75%) out of 48 crude extracts
assessed using LLC-MK2 cells were non-cytotoxic while three extracts (6.25%) were cytotoxic with CC50 <30
μg/mL (cut-off point). In the brine shrimp assay 30 (65.2%) out of 46 extracts tested were non-toxic while 16
extracts (34.8%) were toxic (LC50 <100 μg/mL). Antiaris toxicaria stem bark extract was the most cytotoxic to
mammalian cells. This study demonstrates that, most of the antimalarial plants tested were non-toxic. These
observations corroborate with traditional healers’ claims that the herbal medicines used in their areas are safe.
However, further studies using different toxicity models are suggested to further confirm their claims
Description
Keywords
Toxicity, Medicinal plants, Malaria
Citation
Nondo, R.S., Moshi, M.J., Erasto, P., Zofou, D., Njouendou, A.J., Wanji, S., Ngemenya, M.N., Kidukuli, A.W., Masimba, P.J. and Titanji, V.P., 2015. Evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of extracts from medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in Kagera and Lindi regions, Tanzania. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 5(4), pp.007-012.