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Planta Med 2010; 76(2): 195-201
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1186024
Biological Screening
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Screening of Tanzanian Medicinal Plants against Plasmodium falciparum and Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Sheila Maregesi1 , 2 , Sabine Van Miert1 , Christophe Pannecouque3 , Mohammed H. Feiz Haddad4 , Nina Hermans1 , Colin W. Wright4 , Arnold J. Vlietinck1 , Sandra Apers1 , Luc Pieters1
  • 1Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
  • 3Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  • 4School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

received May 10, 2009 revised June 30, 2009

accepted July 10, 2009

Publication Date:
03 August 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Medicinal plants used to treat infectious diseases in Bunda district, Tanzania, were screened for activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1, IIIB strain) and Type 2 (HIV-2, ROD strain). Antiplasmodial activity was observed for the 80 % MeOH extract of Ormocarpum kirkii (root; MIC = 31.25 µg/mL), Combretum adenogonium (leaves), Euphorbia tirucalli (root), Harrisonia abyssinica (root), Rhynchosia sublobata (root), Sesbania sesban (root), Tithonia diversifolia (leaves), and Vernonia cinerascens (leaves; MIC value of 62.5 µg/mL). With regard to HIV, 80 % MeOH extracts of Barleria eranthemoides (root), Combretum adenogonium (leaves and stem bark), Elaeodedron schlechteranum (stem bark and root bark), Lannea schweinfurthii (stem bark), Terminalia mollis (stem bark and root bark), Acacia tortilis (stem bark), Ficus cycamorus (stem bark) and Indigofera colutea (shoot), as well as H2O extracts from Barleria eranthemoides (root), Combretum adenogonium (leaves and stem bark), and Terminalia mollis (stem bark and root bark) exhibited IC50 values below 10 µg/mL against HIV-1 (IIIB strain). The highest anti-HIV-1 activity value was obtained for the B. eranthemoides 80 % MeOH root extract (IC50 value 2.1 µg/mL). Only a few extracts were active against HIV-2, such as the 80 % MeOH extract from Lannea schweinfurthii (stem bark) and Elaeodedron schlechteranum (root bark), showing IC50 values < 10 µg/mL.

Key words

medicinal plants - antiplasmodial activity - Plasmodium falciparum - anti‐HIV activity - HIV - Tanzania

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Luc Pieters

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Analysis
University of Antwerp

Universiteitsplein 1

2610 Antwerp

Belgium

Phone: + 32 38 20 27 15

Fax: + 32 38 20 27 09

Email: luc.pieters@ua.ac.be