Abstract

Malaria is a fatal disease caused by different Plasmodium species of parasites and has remained the major killer of humans worldwide especially the children under five years of age and pregnant women. In this study, the anti-Plasmodia activities of the crude leaf ether extracts of Aloe dawei (AD) and Justicia betonica (JB) on Plasmodium falciparum were investigated, with chloroquine diphosphate as a positive control. The results showed that ether extracts of JB had EC₅₀ of 13.36 (95% CI: 8.032 to 22.23) µg/ml and AD had 7.965 (95% CI: 3.557 to 17.84) µg/ml. The chloroquine diphosphate had EC₅₀ of 24.86 (95% CI: 9.239 to 66.89) µg/ml. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the ether extract showed that JB contains steroids and triterpenoids, alkaloids and saponins while AD contained steroids and triterpenoids, anthraquinolones, alkaloids and saponins. The results provides evidence that JB and AD contain compounds with anti-P. falciparum activity and hence their use by the traditional herbalist and local communities in treatment of malaria.

Key words: Anti-Plasmodium falciparum, activity, EC_50, Aloe dawei, Justicia betonica.