In vitro Antiplasmodial Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Newbouldia laevis Used in Treating Malaria-associated Symptoms

This study investigated the In vitro antiplasmodial activity and phytochemical constituents of the leaves from Newbouldia laevis used in the local treatment of malaria. The crude ethanol extract from the medicinal plant (NL-01) was fractionated into ethyl acetate (NL-01-01), chloroform (NL-01-02) and n-hexane (NL-01-03) fractions. NL-01-03 has the highest weight of 1.7 g followed by NL-01-01 (0.9 g). SL-01-02 has the least weight of 0.7 g. In vitro antiplasmodial assays and phytochemical screening of ethyl acetate, chloroform and n-hexane fractions from the plant were further carried out. Alkaloids, saponins tannins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides were detected in the extracts of the plant. Plant’s leaves extracts and fractions were found to be active against Plasmodium falciparum with percentage elimination range of 43.18 to 79.54%. The results showed that percentage elimination increases as the concentrations of the extract and fractions increase. At 0.5 mg/cm3, SL-01-01 has the highest activity of 54.54% while SL-01-02 has the least percentage elimination of 43.18%. At concentration of 5.0mg/cm3, NL-01 has the highest activity of 79.54% while NL-01-02 has the least activity of 72.72%. The analysis of the results of the extract and that of the standard (positive control) using Mann-Whitny U test indicate that there is no significant difference between them at 95% confidence interval. Spearman rank correlation analysis of the plant samples with the positive control samples showed that there is correlation and the degree of relationship between the antiplasmodial activities of the plant samples and positive control samples is positively perfect (ˠs = 1).

TLC screening of the ethyl acetate fraction using ethyl acetate/n-hexane mixture in the ratio 1:4 revealed four spots on the plate.