Abstract

ANTIPLASMODIAL ACTIVITY OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA: AN IN VIVO AND IN VITRO STUDY

Saroj Bapna*, Pallavi K. Choudhary, Mira Ramaiya and Abhay Chowdhary

Abstract

The present study reports the evaluation of anti-plasmodial effect of crude alkaloidal extract and its berberine fraction isolated from leaves of Argemone mexicana L. (family, Papaveraceae) which is commonly used in traditional medicine in India. Berberine demonstrated promising in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 (IC50 value 34.18 μg/mL) as compared to crude alkaloidal extract (IC50 value73.84 μg/mL). The toxicity of the extracts were monitored with Brine shrimp lethality essay and showed no toxicity in both the extract tested. The results of in vivo activity against Plasmodium berghei in mice, demonstrated more promising results with crude alkaloidal extract as compared to berberine. When both the extracts were co-administered there was tremendous increase in survival time and parasite inhibition as compared to control in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. The successful combination of crude and purified fractions may help in translating our research on Argemone mexicana into practical use for people at risk of contracting malaria.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum, Argemone mexicana, antimalarial plants, Brine shrimp.