. 2021 Aug 25;20:349. doi: 10.1186/s12936-021-03866-0

Table 3.

In vitro and in vivo studies on African medicinal plants

Plant species	Plant family	Source	Country of study	Part of plant used	Extraction solvent	Overall activity	In vitro	In vivo	IC₅₀ or ED₅₀ or LD₅₀	Strain of Plasmodium tested	parasite suppression rate	Toxicity (value; assay)
Sphaeranthus suaveolens	Compositae	[199]	Kenya	Whole plant	Methanol	Moderate	Moderate	In active	7.93–56.73 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	46.74% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Abutilon grandiflorum	Malvaceae	[200]	Tanzania	Roots	Ethyl acetate	Good	Moderate	Very good	9–14 µg/mL IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum HB3 and FCB, Plasmodium vinckei vinckei	83–87% at 20 ug/ml/day	Yes (IC₅₀ = 36 µg/ml; human colon carcinoma cell line [HT29])
Alchornea laxiflora	Euphorbiaceae	[131]	Nigeria	Roots	Ethyl acetate, dichloromethane	Good	Inactive	Very good	38.44—40.17 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum 3Dè, INDO, Plasmodium berghei	65.73% at 150 mg/kg/day	Yes (LD₅₀ = 748.33 mg/kg; HeLa cells)
Annona senegalensis	Annonaceae	[201]	Nigeria	Leaves	Methanol	Moderate	In active	Very good	28.8 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium berghei	> 57% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Boscia angustifolia	Capparaceae	[199]	Kenya	Stem barks	Methanol	Moderate	Moderate	Very good	7.43–35.93 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 &W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	60.12% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Chrozophora senegalensis	Euphorbiaceae	[64]	Senegal	Leaves	Water	Very good	Very good	Very good	1.6–1.9 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum FcM29, FcB1, Plasmodium vinckei petteri	65% at 10 mg/kg/day	No
Clerodendrum eriophyllum	Lamiaceae	[199]	Kenya	Root barks	Methanol	Moderate	Good	Very good	9.51–10.56 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 & W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	90.13% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Cocos nucifera	Arecaceae	[202]	Nigeria	Husk	Ethyl acetate	Moderate	Moderate	Very good	10.94 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum W2, Plasmodium berghei NK65	98.6% at 125 mg/kg/day	Nd
Commiphora africana	Burseraceae	[159]	Tanzania	Stem barks	Dichloromethane	Moderate	Very good	Moderate	4.54 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6, Dd2, Plasmodium berghei	64.24% at 400 mg/kg/day	No
Ficus thonningii	Moraceae	[203]	Nigeria	Whole plant	Hexane	Moderate	Good	Moderate	2.7–10.4 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum NF54, K1, Plasmodium berghei NK65	84.5% at 500 mg/kg/day	No
Flueggea virosa	Phyllanthaceae	[199]	Kenya	Leaves	Methanol	Very good	Very good	Very good	2.28–3.64 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	70.91% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Fuerstia africana	Lamiaceae	[199]	Kenya	Whole plant	Methanol	Very good	Very good	Very good	0.98–2.40 µg//ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	61.85% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Harungana madagascariensis	Hypericaceae	[199]	Kenya	Leaves	Water	Moderate	Inactive	Very good	39.07–43.7 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	88.04% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Harungana madagascariensis	Hypericaceae	[204]	Nigeria	Stem barks	Ethanol	Very good	Very good	Inactive	0.052—0.517 μg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis N67, Plasmodium falciparum	28.6–44.8%	Nd
Lannea schweinfurthii	Anacardiaceae	[205]	Kenya	Stem barks	Methanol	Moderate	Moderate	Very good	11.38–36.26 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6, W2, Plasmodium berghei	91.37% at 100 mg/kg/day	Yes (SI = 6.21–19.79; Vero cells)
Lophira alata	Ochnaceae	[203]	Nigeria	Whole plant	Hexane	Good	Very good	Moderate	2.5 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum NF54, K1, Plasmodium berghei NK65	74.45% at 500 mg/kg/day	No
Ludwigia erecta	Onagraceae	[199]	Kenya	Whole plant	Water	Very good	Very good	In active	0.93–1.61 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 & W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	49.64% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Maytenus putterlickioides	Celastraceae	[199]	Kenya	Root barks	Methanol	Good	Good	Very good	4.41–10.26 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	78.66% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Maytenus undata	Celastraceae	[199]	Kenya	Leaves	Methanol	Good	Good	Very good	7.4–9.89 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	76.29% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Mimusops caffra	Sapotaceae	[206]	South Africa	Leaves	Dichloromethane	Good	Very good	Moderate	2.14 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D10, Plasmodium berghei	94.01% at 400 mg/kg/day	Nd
Schkuhria pinnata	Compositae	[199]	Kenya	Whole plant	Methanol	Good	Good	In actice	1.3–6.83 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 & W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	49.9% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Sclerocarya birrea	Anacardiaceae	[205]	Kenya	Stem barks	Methanol	Moderate	Moderate	Very good	5.91–24.96 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6, W2, Plasmodium berghei	63.49% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Toddalia asiatica	Rutaceae	[117]	Kenya	Fruits	Ethyl acetate	Very good	Very good	Moderate	1.87 μg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum W2 & D6, Plasmodium berghei	81.34% at 500 mg/kg/day	No
Turraea robusta	Meliaceae	[205]	Kenya	Root barks	Methanol	Good	Good	Very good	2.09–10.32 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6, W2, Plasmodium berghei	78.2% at 100 mg/kg/day	Yes (SI = 2.36–11.67; Vero cells)
Uapaca nitida	Phyllanthaceae	[207]	Tanzania	Root barks	Ethanol	Moderate*	Inactive	Inactive	19.6—25.9 µg/mL IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum K1, T9-96 & Plasmodium berghei	poor	No
Vernonia ambigua	Asteraceae	[208]	Nigeria	Ns	Water	Very good	Inactive	Very good	31.26–50 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium berghei, Plasmodium falciparum	60% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Vernonia ambigua	Asteraceae	[209]	Republic of Congo	Leaves	Methanol	Moderate	Very good	Moderate	3.58 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium yoelii	61.28% at 500 mg/kg/day	No
Warburgia stuhlmannii	Camellaceae	[199]	Kenya	Stem barks	Water	Very good	Very good	Very good	1.81–2.33 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2, Plasmodium berghei ANKA	84.95% at 100 mg/kg/day	No
Azadirachta indica	Meliaceae	[143]	Kenya	Leaves	Methanol	Good	Good	Good	6.24–7.53 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2	83.48% at 250 mg/kg/day	No
Dichrostachys cinerea	Fabaceae	[159]	Tanzania	Stem barks	Methanol	Moderate	Good	Moderate	2.37–11.92 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6, Dd2, Plasmodium berghei	53.12% at 400 mg/kg/day	No
Grewia plagiophylla	Malvaceae	[143]	Kenya	Leaves	Methanol	Moderate	Moderate	Good	13.28–34.2 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2	77.9% at 250 mg/kg/day	Nd
Hoslundia opposita	Lamiaceae	[143]	Kenya	Leaves	Methanol	Moderate	Good	Good	12.8–13.22 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2	79.67% at 250 mg/kg/day	Yes (SI = 0.58; Vero E6 cells)
Lannea schweinfurthii	Anacardiaceae	[143]	Kenya	Leaves	Methanol	Moderate	Inactive	Good	38.87–54.15 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2	83.48% at 250 mg/kg/day	Yes (SI = 1.4; Vero E6 cells)
Premna chrysoclada	Lamiaceae	[143]	Kenya	Leaves	Methanol	Good	Good	Good	7.75–9.02 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2	65.08% at 250 mg/kg/day	Nd
Rhus natalensis	Anacardiaceae	[143]	Kenya	Leaves	Methanol	Moderate	Inactive	Good	43.93–51.2 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2	82.7% at 250 mg/kg/day	Nd
Triphyophyllum peltatum	Dioncophyllaceae	[191]	Ivory coast	Roots, stem barks	Dichloromethane	Very good*	Very good	Very good	1.90 mg/kg for Dioncophylline C and 10.71 mg/kg for dioncophylline A	Plasmodium berghei ANKA CRS	99% at 50 mg/kg/day	Nd
Uvaria acuminata	Annonaceae	[143]	Kenya	Roots	Methanol	Good	Good	In active	6.90–8.89 µg/ml IC₅₀	Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2	27.0% at 250 mg/kg/day	Nd

Nd Not done, Ns Not specified, SI Selectivity index

^aActivity determined using pure compounds isolated from plant