ANTIMALARIAL ACTIVITY OF THE ROOT AND LEAVES OF DRACEANA FRAGRANS

Abstract

The anti-plamodial activity of the roots and leaves of D. fragrans Gawl family Agavaceae were evaluated using the schizont inhibition assay. Susceptibility of the HF28 chloroquine resistant strain of Plansmodium falciparum was determined in vitro using chloroquine, chloroquine plus verpamil as standard drugs and the partitioned fractions of the roots and leaves of D. fragrans in vitro. The fractions were tested at concentration range of 0-25.0mg/ml while the standard drugs at 0-0.5mg/ml. Chloroquine gave an MIC value of 0.056mg/ml while Chloroquine plus verapamil gave 0.185mg/ml. The MIC of the petroleum spirit, chloroform and ethylacetate fractions of the root, the chloroform and the ethylacetate fractions of the leaves gave MIC of 8.3 ug/ml. The aqueous fractions were generally inactive in both. The root aqueous fraction had 8.2% inhibition at 25mg/ml the highest tested dose. This report showed that P. falciparum strain HF28 was resistant to chloroquine and verpamil was able to reverse the resistance. Also that D. fragrans exhibited a level of anti-plamodial activity, which is weaker than that of chloroquine.


Key Words: Draceana fragrans, Agavaceae, antimalaria.


Nig. J. Nat Prod. And Med. Vol.5 2001: 34-36