Antimalarial Activity of Extract and Fractions of Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr.

Abstract

Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr., in the Indonesian local name known as “Katuk,” is a tropical shrub plant of the family Euphorbiaceae. Based on genus and chemotaxonomic approaches, as well as in vitro testing of Plasmodium falciparum, leaves of S. androgynus are presumed to have an active compound content as an antimalarial. e current study aims to investigate the antimalarial activity of 96% ethanol extract and fractions of S. androgynus leaves. e ethanolic extract was fractionated using the vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) method with three solvents of di erent polarities (n-hexane, chloroform, and 96% ethanol). e fraction obtained was then evaluated for antimalarial activity against P. falciparum 3D7 strain. e ethanolic extract was evaluated for antimalarial suppressive and prophylactic activity against P. berghei-infected mice, as well as inhibitory activity against the heme detoxication process in vitro. Fractionation of ethanolic extract resulted in seven combined fractions, with the most active fraction being FV (50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) 2.042 µg/mL). e ethanolic extract showed good parasitic suppressive (therapeutic) activity with a median e ective dose (ED50) value of 15.35 mg/kg body weight. In a prophylactic test, ethanolic extract showed parasite growth inhibitory activity of 67.74 ± 9.21% after the administration of 400 mg/kg body weight for 4 days before infection, and 65.30 ± 10.44% after the administration of 200 mg/kg body weight for 8 consecutive days (4 days before and after infection). e ethanolic extract also showed an e ect in inhibiting the formation of β-hematin of about 26.87–79.36% at a concentration of 0.1–4 mg/mL and an IC50 value of 0.479 mg/mL. e S. androgynus leaves were shown to have antimalarial activity in vitro and in vivo, where ethanolic extract were more active compared with the fraction obtained. e antimalarial properties of the extract showed a higher suppressive activity than prophylactic activity