In vitro antiplasmodial activity of Central American medicinal plants

The in vitro antiplasmodial activities of 14 plant species traditionally us ed in Central America for the treatment of malaria or fever were evaluated. Lipophilic extracts of Piper hispidum, Siparuna andina, S. pauciflora, S. tonduziana, and Xylopia cf. frutescens, proved to be active against both a chloroquine-sensitive and a resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum. IC50 values ranged between 3.0 mu g/ml and 21.9 mu g/ml; however, moderate cyto toxicity of active extracts was observed. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of Piper hispidum yielded 2',4,6'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxydihydrochalcone (ase bogenin) as an active compound.