In Vitro Antiplasmodial Activity of Callus Culture Extracts from Fresh Apical Stems of Phyllanthus niruri: Part 1

Abstract

The ethanol extracts of fresh apical stems of Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae) cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with IBA/BAP/Coco nucifera L. milk for 1, 2, 4, and 6 months were phytochemically and biologically investigated and compared to the intact plant part and whole plant extracts. A phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, terpenes, and flavonoids as the major phytochemical groups, but not the same constituents belonging to these groups in all extracts. Alkaloids were detected in whole plant extract and were in traces in the intact apical stem extract and callus extracts. Results from the in vitro antiplasmodial testing indicated that the callus extract 1 month old (IC₅₀ = 16.3±2.5 µg/ml) exhibited activity similar to the intact plant part extract (IC₅₀ = 18.2±2.5 µg/ml) (p = 0.05). This activity was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that exhibited by extracts from callus cultures 2, 4, and 6 months old (25 < IC₅₀ < 40 µg/ml). The activity of these extracts is lower than that displayed by the same extract from the whole plant (IC₅₀ = 2.5±0.2 µg/ml).

Keywords:

• Apical stem
• callus culture
• Euphorbiaceae
• in vitro antiplasmodial activity
• Phyllanthus niruri