Fractions of an antimalarial neem-leaf extract have activities superior to chloroquine, and are gametocytocidal

Fractions of an antimalarial neem-leaf extract have activities superior to chloroquine, and are gametocytocidal

The antimalarial activities of two fractions (IRDN-A and IRDN-B) of an extract from the leaves of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) were compared with those of chloroquine, in in-vitro assays against Plasmodium falciparum. The asexual stages of a chloroquine-sensitive clone (ITG2F6) and a chloroqui...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology Vol. 100; no. 1; pp. 17 - 22
Main Authors: Udeinya, I. J., Brown, N., Shu, E. N., Udeinya, F. I., Quakeyie, I.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Leeds Taylor & Francis 01-01-2006
Maney Publishing
Subjects:
Animals
Antimalarials - therapeutic use
Azadirachta
Biological and medical sciences
Cells, Cultured
Chloroquine - therapeutic use
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drug Resistance
Gametogenesis - drug effects
General aspects
Life Cycle Stages
Medical sciences
Parasitemia - drug therapy
Plant Extracts - therapeutic use
Plasmodium falciparum - drug effects
Nigeria
Africa
Protozoa
Antimalarial
Apicomplexa
Extract
Meliaceae
In vitro
Biological activity
Plasmodium falciparum
Dicotyledones
Angiospermae
Plant origin
Parasiticide
Tropical medicine
Spermatophyta
Antirheumatic agent
Azadirachta indica
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Summary:The antimalarial activities of two fractions (IRDN-A and IRDN-B) of an extract from the leaves of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) were compared with those of chloroquine, in in-vitro assays against Plasmodium falciparum. The asexual stages of a chloroquine-sensitive clone (ITG2F6) and a chloroquine-resistant isolate (W2) and the gametocytes of the NF 54 (BD-7) isolate of P. falciparum were used as the drug targets. Activity against the asexual stages was generally evaluated as the concentrations inhibiting the parasitaemias recorded in the control cultures, after an incubation of 48-72 h, by 50% (IC 50 ) or 100% (IC 100 ). For the ITG2F6 strain, the IC 50 and IC 100 (in μg/ml) were, respectively, 10 −5 and 10 −4 for IRDN-A, 10 −3 and 10 −2 for IRDN-B, and 10 −2 and 1.0 for chloroquine. The corresponding values for the W2 strain were 10 −5 and 1.0 for IRDN-A, and 10.0 and >100 for chloroquine (even at 100 μg/ml, chloroquine only inhibited the parasitaemia by 85%). Each of the two neem-leaf fractions lysed 50% and 100% of developing gametocytes, at 10 −3 and 1.0 μg/ml, respectively; and 50% and 100% of mature gametocytes at 10 −3 and 10 2 μg/ml, respectively. If they are found safe and effective in vivo, the neem-leaf fractions may form the basis of new antimalarial drugs that not only cure chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant malaria but also markedly reduce transmission.
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ISSN:0003-4983
1364-8594
DOI:10.1179/136485906X78508