J. Bero et al. / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 122 (2009) 439–444

Aim of the study: The aim of the studywas to evaluate the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of crude extracts
of 12 plant species traditionally used in Benin for the treatment of malaria in order to validate their use.
Materials and methods: For each species, dichloromethane, methanol and total aqueous extracts were
tested. The antiplasmodial activity of extracts was evaluated using the measurement of the plasmodial
lactate dehydrogenase activity on chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium
falciparum. The selectivity of the different extractswas evaluated using the MTT test on J774 macrophagelike
murine cells and WI38 human normal fibroblasts.

Results: The best growth inhibition of both strains of Plasmodium falciparum was observed with the
dichloromethane extracts of Acanthospermum hispidum DC. (Asteraceae) (IC50 =7.5µg/ml on 3D7 and
4.8 µg/ml on W2), Keetia leucantha (K. Krause) Bridson (syn. Plectronia leucantha Krause) (Rubiaceae)
leaves and twigs (IC50 = 13.8 and 11.3 µg/ml on 3D7 and IC50 = 26.5 and 15.8 µg/ml on W2, respectively),
Carpolobia lutea G.Don. (Polygalaceae) (IC50 = 19.4 µg/ml on 3D7 and 8.1 µg/ml on W2) and Strychnos
spinosa Lam. (Loganiaceae) leaves (IC50 = 15.6 µg/ml on 3D7 and 8.9 µg/ml on W2). All these extracts had
a low cytotoxicity.

Conclusion: Our study gives some justifications for the traditional uses of some investigated plants