Abstract:
Malaria, a disease caused by protozoa’s of the genus Plasmodium, is the world’s leading killer disease currently. Plasmodium falciparum the most prevalent and pathogenic malaria parasite has developed resistance to the commonly used anti-malarial drugs. Female Anopheles mosquito through bites primarily transmits the disease, as they require human blood for egg nourishment. An estimated 1.1 to 2.7 million deaths occur every year in the world due to malaria and the most affected are children under five years. This disease has put a heavy burden to the ailing economies of developing countries, by exhausting the health care resources. Many communities in Kenya are still using plant extracts in treatment of malaria and other aihnents. These herbal preparations have also been known to be effective and successful in provision of the primary health care needs to the clients. However, it is important to verify efficacy and provide evidence based in use of these folk medicines. As such in pursuance of this important aspect, five plants traditionally used for malaria treatment were extracted and screened to investigate and verify their anti-plasmodial potentials. The primary objectives of this study were; a) preparation of organic crude extracts from selected plants using solvents of varying polarities, b) screening of the crude extracts for anti- plasmodial activities, c) isolation and purification of the active anti-plasmodial compound(s) and d) determination of the plausible structure of the isolated compound(s) using one- dimensional NMR spectroscopic analysis. The organic extracts firom root materials of Cyathula cylindrica, Croton macrastaychua‘, Schkuhria pinnata, Vernania lasiopus and Cassia abbreviata, were prepared by soxhlet extraction method. Organic crude extracts were subjected to isotopic in vitro anti-plasmodial sensitivity test at varying concentrations. Two strains of P. falczparum parasite W2 and D6 clones were used in the sensitivity test process. A pure compound KMDOOSZ-FSA was purified using chromatographic techniques (CC & TLC) and its anti-plasmodial activity determined as lC50=26.02i0.l ug/ml and 25.97i0.l ug/ml against D6 and W2 isolates respectively. The compound was characterised using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Specflometry. 1H-NMR, “C-NMR and DEPT spectra obtained for this compound were used to elucidate its plausible structure.
