Research: ENDALE and COLLEAGUES,

Listed in Issue 231

Abstract

ENDALE and COLLEAGUES, (1)Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, tested the leaves of Otostegia integrifolia Benth for its in vivo antimalarial activity.

Background

In Ethiopian traditional medicine, the leaves of Otostegia integrifolia Benth. are used for the treatment of several diseases including malaria.

Methodology

In an ongoing search for effective, safe and cheap antimalarial agents from plants, the 80% methanol leaf extract O. integrifolia was tested for its in vivo antimalarial activity, in a 4-day suppressive assay against Plasmodium berghei. Activity-guided fractionation of this extract which showed potent anti-plasmodial activity resulted in the isolation of a labdane diterpenoid identified as otostegindiol.

Results

Otostegindiol displayed a significant (P < 0.001) antimalarial activity at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg with chemosuppression values of 50.13, 65.58 and 73.16%, respectively. Acute toxicity studies revealed that the crude extract possesses no toxicity in mice up to a maximum dose of 5000 mg/kg suggesting the relative safety of the plant when administered orally.

Conclusion

The results of the present study indicate that otostegindiol is among the antimalarial principles in this medicinal plant, and further support claims for the traditional medicinal use of the plant for the treatment of malaria.

References

Endale A(1), Bisrat D, Animut A, Bucar F, Asres K. In vivo antimalarial activity of a labdane diterpenoid from the leaves of Otostegia integrifolia Benth. Phytother Res 27(12): 1805-9. Dec 2013. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4948. Epub Feb 11 2013.

Comment

The above two research studies document the clinical efficacy of the plants Waltheria indica L and Otostegia integrifolia Benth in the treatment of a wide variety of significant medical conditions including malaris.

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