Abstract

Malaria still constitutes a major global health challenge due its high morbidity and mortality. Ficus asperifolia and Ficus vallis-choudae (Moraceae) have been traditionally used in the treatment of malaria among other ailments. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of the methanol leaf extract (FaMLE), stem bark extract (FaMSE) of Ficus asperifolia and methanol leaf extract (FvMLE), stem bark extract (FvMSE) of Ficus vallis-choudae. Plants secondary metabolites were determined using standard protocols and oral median lethal dose (LD50) of the extracts were estimated using the OECD guidelines. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity was evaluated using the percentage parasite clearing activity model as described by Trager. Flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and steroids were seen as the major metabolites. The oral LD50 of the extracts were found to be above 5000 mg/kg. FaMLE, FvMLE, FaMSE and FvMSE showed significant (p<0.05) parasite reduction when compared to the negative control as was observed with Chloroquine and Artesunate (10 µg/ml). The extracts in a concentration dependent manner (6.25, 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 and 100 µg/ml) exhibited the reduction with varying percentage of parasite clearance. The FaMLE had 37.96, 55.02, 66.89, 75.92 and 80.94% respectively while the FvMLE revealed 24.04, 45.06, 57.96, 63.06 and 75.96 as percentage parasite clearance respectively. The percentage parasite clearance for FaMSE and FvMSE was found to be 20.49, 35.07, 52.09, 60.06 68.04 and 33.93, 56.12, 62.97, 70.96, 78.95 respectively. It was observed that FaMLE and FvMSE showed better in vitro parasite clearing activity and were recommended for the in vivo studies using laboratory animals to further confirm their antiplasmodial potentials.