<i>In vitro</i> Antimalarial and Cytotoxic Activities of Leaf Extracts of <i>Vernonia amygdalina</i> (Del.)

Abstract

The antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activity of leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina was studied. The plant leaves were prepared into three extract forms: ethanolic, aqueous, and hydroethanolic (50:50) using standard procedures. The extracts were evaluated in vitro for antiplasmodial activity using a
3D7 chloroquine sensitive clone of NF-54 isolate of Plasmodium falciparum. The parasite growth inhibition was estimated based on the 48 hours microassay technique. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated in vitro using non-cancerous vero cell line (C-1008 kidney fibroblasts from African green monkey) by the neural red uptake method. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of the plant had the highest antiplasmodial activity with IC50 = 9.8 mg/ml, cytotoxicity (IC50 = 60.33) and selectivity index (S.I.) of 6.14 when compared with the other extracts. The results suggest that the ethanolic extract
of V. amygdalina possesses considerable antiplasmodial activity. The study justifies local claims on the efficacy of the plant leaves for treatment of malaria.