Antimalarial Activities of Zea mays Leaf Extract in Ethanol and Selected Solvent Fractions

ABSTRACT

Zea mays leaf extract and fractions were investigated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei using a rodent malaria model and in vitro activity against chloroquine-sensitive (Pf 3D7) and -resistant (Pf INDO) strains of P. falciparum using the SYBR green assay method. Median lethal dose (LD₅₀) and cytotoxic activities against HeLa and HEKS cells were also carried out. The most active fraction was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). The leaf extract (170–510 mg.kg^–1, p.o.), with LD₅₀ of 1,732.05 mg.kg^–1, demonstrated antimalarial activity against P. berghei infection in suppressive, prophylactive, and curative tests. The crude extract and the fractions also exerted prominent activity against both chloroquine-sensitive (Pf 3D7) and -resistant (Pf INDO) strains of P. falciparum, with the ethyl acetate fraction exerting the highest activity with IC₅₀ value of 32.31 ± 2.56 μg.mL^–1 (Pf 3D7) and 13.60 ± 0.57 μg.mL^–1 (Pf INDO). The crude leaf extract and fractions were not cytotoxic to the two cell lines tested, with IC₅₀ of >100 μg.mL^–1 against both HeLa and HEKS cell lines.

KEYWORDS:

• Antimalarial
• antiplasmodial
• Plasmodium berghei
• Plasmodium falciparum

Acknowledgment

Dr. Jude Okokon is grateful to the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) for financial support for a postdoctoral fellowship and ICGEB, Delhi, India, for providing research facilities.