In vitro Anti Plasmodial Activity of Enicostemma littorale

Problem statement: Malaria is a prevalent disease in India. The problem of drug resistance is worsening. Hence, new effective and affordable antimalarial drugs are very much needed. The long-established use of quinine and the more recent introduction of artemisinin as highly effective anti malarials demonstrate that plant species are an important resource for the discovery of new anti malarial agents. Approach: Majority of the plants belonging to Gentianaceae family were proven as good antimalarials containing swertiamarin as a common marker. Enicostemma littorale (Gentianaceae) is also known from traditional knowledge for treatment of visham jwara and is rich in swertiamarin amongst all of the plants belonging to same family. In view of this, initial screening had been undertaken. Our laboratory had also been working on the same for its antidiabetic activity. Results: This was first report to demonstrate anti plasmodial activity of Enicostemma littorale (Gentianaceae) against Plasmodium falciparum. Methanolic extract of plant and swertiamarin isolated from it showed promising results in vitro in schizont maturation inhibition assay having IC50 of 529.045 and 12 mu g mL(-1) respectively. We also reported a simple and rapid method for isolation of swertiamarin which was applicable at commercial scale. Conclusion: The present study represented the potential antimalarial action of plant and its active phytoconstituent, may give new lead to researchers in field of antimalarial drug discovery.