ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANC:Feretia apodanthera is traditionally valued for its antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antiviral properties. With Plasmodium resistance to antimalarial drugs increasing, the need for alternative therapies has become urgent. Medicinal plants like F. apodanthera offer promising candidates for new treatments.
AIM OF THE STUDY:This study investigates the antiplasmodial potential of F. apodanthera to support local malaria control strategies.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:The antiplasmodial activity of F. apodanthera leaf, stem bark and root extracts were assessed in vitro using the SYBR Green assay and in vivo with Plasmodium berghei NMRI-infected mice through suppressive, curative, and prophylactic approaches. Toxicity was evaluated in mice and red blood cells, while phytochemical composition was analysed using UHPLC-HRMS and GC-MS.
RESULTS:F. apodanthera extracts were non-toxic (LD50 > 5000 mg/kg) and exhibited strong in vitro trophozoitocidal activity (IC50: 0.140 ± 0.015-0.620 ± 0.014 μg/mL) with minimal haemolysis (<1 %). In vivo, parasitaemia reduction was tissue-and dose-dependent, with leaf showing the highest chemosuppressive efficacy across suppressive (32.33 ± 9.42 % at 125 mg/kg, 68.01 ± 9.73 % at 250 mg/kg, and 76.31 ± 8.77 % at 500 mg/kg), curative (68.41 ± 12.41 % at Day 5 and 63.41 ± 12.28 % at Day 7), and prophylactic (63.60 ± 8.78 % at Day 5 and 57.10 ± 13.20 % at Day 7) tests. Root and stem bark extracts had moderate chemosuppressive efficacy across the three tests. UHPLC-HRMS analysis revealed a diverse range of bioactive compounds in leaf, stem bark and root extracts, including terpenoids, polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, carbohydrates, iridoids, and alkaloids, and GC/MS analysis found alkaloids only in leaf and root extracts. The compounds identified may contribute to their antiplasmodial activity. Notably, polyphenols and alkaloids compounds were more abundant in leaf, which may explain their higher antiplasmodial activity.
CONCLUSION:Overall, all three organs of F. apodanthera exhibited antiplasmodial activity both in vitro and in vivo while remaining non-toxic. The leaf demonstrated superior chemosuppressive and schizonticidal activity, along with strong trophozoitocidal effects, whereas the root and stem bark excelled in trophozoitocidal activity. These findings support the traditional use of F. apodanthera in malaria treatment and highlight its potential for developing antimalarial phytomedicines.