Phytochemical Investigation and In Vitro Antimalarial Activity of Acalypha Indica (L.) and Cocculus Hirsutus (L.) from Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India
Pasumarthi Brahmam
and Kanikaram SunitaDepartment of Zoology and Aquaculture, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar 522510, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Corresponding Author E-mail: drsunitamichael@gmail.com
Abstract: The present study, report the phytochemical analysis and in vitro antimalarial activity of plants Acalypha indica (L.) and Cocculus hirsutus (L.). The A. indica and C. hirsutus plant was collected from Kadaparajupalle at Dornala mandal, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Leaf, stem bark and root crude extracts prepared in Soxhlet apparatus with chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol solvents. The preliminary phytochemical screening of these extracts was conducted by following the standard methods. These extracts were tested for in vitro antimalarial activity against 3D7 and K1 strains of Plasmodium falciparum by standard laboratory protocol. In vitro cytotoxicity of the extracts was also tested by following standard laboratory method. The phytochemical screening has revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids & steroids, tannins, anthocyanidins, phenolic compounds, coumarins, quinones, resins and glycosides. Amongst all the extracts screened for antimalarial activity, the leaf chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of A. indica shown IC50 values of 3.34 µg/mL and 3.71 µg/mL respectively against 3D7 strain; the leaf chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of A. indica shown IC50 values of 1.47 µg/mL and 2.32 µg/mL respectively against K1 strain; the root chloroform and methanol extracts of C. hirsutus shown IC50 values of <0.78 µg/mL and 3.714 µg/mL respectively against 3D7 strain; the root chloroform and methanol extracts of C. hirsutus shown IC50 values of <0.78 µg/mL and 2.10 µg/mL respectively against K1 strain. Thus, the above extracts have shown very active antimalarial activity against 3D7 and K1 strains. And all the extracts were non-toxic showing CC50 values of >20 µg/mL against Vero cell line. The presence of high alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids of the plant extracts suggest their antioxidant potential and justifies their therapeutic action which could be used for the drug formulation. The chloroform root extract of C. hirsutus has shown excellent antimalarial activity which can be used for the development of new antimalarial drug policies.
Keywords: Acalypha Indica; Antimalarial Activity; Cocculus Hirsutus; Crude Extracts; Cytotoxicity Back to TOC