Antiplasmodial activity of traditional polyherbal remedy from Odisha, India: Their potential for prophylactic use

ObjectiveTo evaluate the potential prophylactic activity of traditional polyherbal remedy against malaria.MethodsA traditional polyherbal remedy against malaria from Odisha, India was evaluated for its potential prophylactic activity using in vitro hepatic cell lines assay and the murine malaria system Plasmodium yoelii yoelii/Anopheles stephensi.ResultsThe polyherbal extract inhibited the Plasmodium yoelii hepatic stages in vitro (IC50 0.74 mg/mL), a therapeutic index of 9.54. In mice treated with the aqueous extract (2 000 mg/kg/day), peak parasitaemia values were 81% lower in the experimental 2.35% ± 0.14% as compared to controls 12.62% ± 0.52% (P < 0.001), suggesting significant prophylactic activity.ConclusionsThe observations provide a proof of concept for a traditional malaria prophylactic remedy used by tribal populations in India.