1.In vitro antiplasmodial activity, macronutrients and trace metals in the medicinal plants: Phyllanthus spp. and Alpinia conchigera Griff
Haslinda, M.S ; Aiyub, Z ; Bakar, N.K.A ; Tohar, N ; Musa, Y ; Abdullah, N.R ; Ibrahim, H ; Awang, K.
Tropical Biomedicine 2015;32(1):129-139
An antiplasmodial screening of Phyllanthus debilis and Phyllanthus urinaria was
carried out. The medicinal plants were extracted and evaluated for in vitro antiplasmodial
activity against D10 (chloroquine-sensitive, CQS) and Gombak A (chloroquine-resistant, CQR)
strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The methanolic crudes from the soxhlet extraction were
active against both strains however, P. urinaria (IC50 8.9 μg/ml with CQR strain) exhibited
better anti-malarial activity compared to P. debilis (IC50 12.2 μg/ml with CQR strain).
Furthermore, the methanolic crude of P. urinaria obtained by the cold extraction has good
anti-malarial activity towards CQS (IC50 4.1 μg/ml). The concentration of macronutrients
(calcium and magnesium) and trace metals (copper, manganese, iron and zinc) from three
Phyllanthus species i.e. P. debilis Klein ex Wild., Phyllanthus niruri L., P. urinaria L. and
Alpinia conchigera Griff. were determined using microwave digestion method and analyzed
by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Standard Reference Material 1547 (peach leaves)
was used to validate the method throughout this study. The recovery values were in the range
of 80% to 120% which were in very good agreement with the certified values. The three
Phyllanthus species and leaves of A. conchigera showed the highest concentration of calcium
compared to other metals and macronutrients studied. The significant presence of all the
important macronutrients and trace metals which are essential for human health and wellbeing
substantiate their use medicinally in traditional practices.