Evaluation of the Antiplasmodial Activity and Lethality of the Leaf Extract of Cassia alata L. (Fabaceae).

OBJECTIVE: Cassia alata L. (Fabaceae), one of the three plants contained in Saye, a polyherbal antimalarial remedy was assessed for its antimalarial potential and safety in mice. METHODOLOGY: Organic extracts were prepared from the leaves and tested on the D 10 chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum using the parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay. The 4 days suppressive test using Plasmodium berghei in mice was used to evaluate the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the extracts. Animals were treated by oral route, once a day with 50, 100, 250 and 400 mg kg -1 b.wt., of the extracts. The acute toxicity of the extracts was assessed in mice according to Thompson and Weil method. The lethal effects of the extracts on animal's body weight, tissues, biochemical and haematological parameters were determined at 823.5, 1235.5, 1853 and 2779.5 mg kg -1 b.wt., respectively. RESULTS: The dichloromethane/methane (1:1, v/v) extract of Cassia alata was the most active against Plasmodium falciparum. The mean percent suppression of parasitemia in mice was equal to 22.5, 41.8 and 45.2% at 50, 250 and 400 mg kg -1 b.wt., respectively. No death and no clinically significant changes were recorded in mice. The maximum non-lethal dose was more than 16875 mg kg -1 in animals. No significant changes were observed in body weight, tissues morphology, biochemical and hematological parameters at doses above or equal to 2779.5 mg kg -1 b.wt. CONCLUSION: The dichloromethane/methanol leaf extract of Cassia alata had a good to moderate in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity and was found to have low toxicity at high doses in tested animals.

In vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of 'saye', an herbal remedy used in Burkina Faso traditional medicine.

'Saye', a traditional medicine used in Burkina Faso, which consists of extracts of Cochlospermum planchonii (rhizome), Cassia alata (leaf) and Phyllanthus amarus (whole plant), showed a significant effect against Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei parasites grown in vivo (IC(50) = 80.11 +/- 3.40 microg/mL; ED(50) = 112.78 +/- 32.32 mg/kg). In vitro the activity was lower.

N'Dribala (Cochlospermum planchonii) versus chloroquine for treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy of oral N'Dribala (tuberous roots decoction of Cochlospermum planchonii Hook) treatment versus chloroquine in non-severe malaria. The study included 85 patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum infection in Banfora, Burkina Faso. Forty-six patients that received N'Dribala beverage were compared to 21 patients treated with chloroquine. All patients were monitored with clinical examination and a parasitemia control by Giemsa-stained thick films. N'Dribala appeared safe and statistically as efficient as chloroquine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. At day 5 (D5), 57% of chloroquine-treated and 52% of N'Dribala-treated patients were cured with no detectable parasitemia (parasite density (Pd): 0) and more than 90% of whole patients were asymptomatic. N'Dribala is easily available in this country, cheap, without significant side effects and efficient with a clearly demonstrated activity on Plasmodium falciparum blood stages. This study enhances the traditional use of the Cochlospermum planchonii as alternative therapy for treatment of non-severe malaria.

Antimalarial activity in vitro of Cochlospermum tinctorium tubercle extracts.

Resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to current antimalarial compounds has drastically increased during the last few years and is now a major public health problem. We have studied plants traditionally used in Africa against malaria. Extracts of the tubercles of Cochlospermum tinctorium A. Rich, commonly used in Burkina Faso, were tested in vitro on 2 strains of P. falciparum, one (FcB1-Colombia) chloroquine resistant and the other (F32-Tanzania) chloroquine sensitive. Extracts were obtained by infusion and decoction. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were determined by measuring [3H]hypoxanthine incorporation and also by microscopical examination which permitted the determination of parasite stages. We obtained similar results with fresh extracts, frozen extracts, and lyophilized extracts of C. tinctorum. IC50 values were of the order of 1-2 micrograms/mL, about one-tenth of those reported for extracts of neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) and about half the values reported for Artemisia annua extracts.

"Etude de l'efficacite parasitologique du ""n'dribala"" dans le traitement du paludisme."

"Afin de verifier les proprietes antipaludiques du ""n'dribala"" (preparation a partir des racines de cochlospermum tinctorium) preconisees dans le traitement du paludisme; une experimentation a eu lieu d'octobre a decembre 1991 dans deux villages du Burkina Faso; (Koro et Tiefora). Sur les 470 enfants de 0 a 14 ans au total; 88 etaient porteurs de plasmodium. Leurs densites parasitaires a J0 variaient entre 500 et 72000 parasites/mm3 de sang. Apres administration du ""n'dribala""; des controles ont lieu a J2; J4; J7. A J7; seulement 2 sujets etaient arriver a se negativer dans le premier village. Par contre dans le second village le seul sujet qui etait negatif a J7 avait pris de la chloroquine auparavent. Ces resultats ne traduisent pas une efficacite de la drogue a eliminer le parasite du sang. Les proprietes febrifuges ont ete observees dans certains cas. Cette etude doit etre poursuivie avec des tests in vitro et avec differents modes de preparation des extraits de la plante avant de statuer definitivement sur son efficacite."