Antimalarial activity of four plants used in traditional medicine in Mali.

Mitragyna inermis (De Willd.) O. Kuntze Rubiaceae, Nauclea latifolia (Sm.) Rubiaceae, Glinus oppositofolius (Linn) Molluginaceae and Trichilia roka (Forsk.) Chiv. Meliaceae were investigated for their in vitro antimalarial activity. Leaves, roots and stem barks were submitted to aqueous, hydromethano and chloroform extractions and antimalarial activity was evaluated by microscopic and flow cytometric analysis. The results present evidence that the alkaloids contained in chloroform extracts and ursolic acid, purified from the hydromethanol extract of M. inermis induced a significant decrease of parasite proliferation. However, aqueous extracts, traditionally used for medication did not show high antimalarial activity. Statistical comparison between microscopic and cytometric analysis demonstrated the validity of this new technique for the screening of active antimalarial compounds isolated from plants. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.