ANTIMALARIAL ACTIVITY IN CRUDE EXTRACTS OF MALAWIAN MEDICINAL-PLANTS

Aqueous and organic fractions from Cassia abbrevinta, Senna petersina (both Caesalpiniaceae) and Azanza garckeana (Malvaceae) were tested fo r in-vitro antimalarial activity against the multi-drug-resistant, Vie tnam-Smith strain of Plasmodium falcparum, V1/S. Both roots and leaves from these Malawian medicinal plants were investigated. High activity , with a median inhibitory concentration <3 mu g/ml, was seen in the o rganic fractions of C. abbreviata and S. petersiana, the two species m ost commonly cited by traditional healers in an ethnobotanical investi gation of Malawian antimalarials. Extracts of A. garckeana showed weak er activity. Biologically active compounds have thus been detected wit hin species of the family Caesalpiniaceae. Ethnobotanical investigatio n appears to be useful in identifying plants with antimalarial activit y.