Antimalarial activity of Toona ciliata MJ Roem aqueous methanolic leaf extract and its antioxidant and phytochemical properties

Background and aim

Malaria is a global health issue causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Screening of various traditionally important medicinal plants is a key source for the discovery of new antimalarials. We evaluated the antimalarial and antioxidant activities, and performed detailed phytochemical analyses of Toona ciliata MJ Roem aqueous methanolic leaf extract (TcMLE).

Experimental procedures

In vitro antiplasmodial studies in Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) 3D7 and PfCam3.I^R539T strains were performed by [³H]-hypoxanthine uptake assays. In vitro cytotoxicity in HeLa and HEK293T cell lines was evaluated using MTT assays. Hemolysis assay was performed using RBCs. Phytochemical analysis by GC-MS and in vitro antioxidant studies by DPPH and ABTS assays were performed. In vivo antimalarial studies in Pb-infected mice were carried out using Rane's test and Peters' 4-day test.

Results and conclusions

TcMLE showed significant in vitro antioxidant activity and had phytochemicals reported for antimalarial activity. In vitro studies showed prominent antiplasmodial activity against Pf3D7 strain (IC₅₀ ∼22 μg/ml) and PfCam3. I^R539Tstrain (IC₅₀ value ∼43 μg/ml). In vitro cytotoxicity studies, in vitro hemolytic assays, and in vivo acute toxicity studies further suggested that TcMLE is nontoxic. In vivo antimalarial studies using Rane's test showed a significant decrease in parasitemia by ∼70% at 1200 mg/kg doses and delayed the mortality of mice by ∼10–14 days. Peters' 4-day test also showed a similar pattern. The present study demonstrated the antimalarial potential of TcMLE. These findings deliver a platform for further studies to identify the active components of TcMLE and discover new antimalarials.