Antiplasmodial Activity and Safety Evaluation of Three Widely Distributed Polyherbal Antimalarials in Ghana

Finished herbal antimalarials are widely used in Ghana, although scientific reports regarding their antiplasmodial activity and safety of these products are limited. This study, therefore, assessed the antiplasmodial activities and safety of three widely distributed antimalarial polyherbal products. These products (samples A, B and C) were obtained through a minisurvey conducted in the Accra and Kumasi Metropolises. The SYBR Green fluorescence antiplasmodial assay was conducted on different stages of chloroquine-resistant and chloroquine-sensitive strains of P. falciparum. Cytotoxicity and subacute toxicity were assessed following MTT assay and OECD guidelines, respectively. Samples A, B and C yielded IC₅₀ (μg/mL) values of 0.869 ± 0.10, 0.828 ± 0.05 and 3.07 ± 0.098, respectively, against the chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) strain at the trophozoite stage. At the schizont stage, samples A, B and C exhibited moderate to weak activities with IC₅₀ (μg/mL) values of 9.96 ± 0.63, 7.71 ± 1.63 and 13.66 ± 1.91, respectively. At the gametocyte stage, samples A, B and C displayed moderate to weak activity with IC₅₀ (μg/mL) values of 13.59 ± 0.49, 17.92 ± 0.814 and 59.65 ± 1.61, respectively. Parasite inhibition against the chloroquine-resistant strain (Dd2) at the trophozoite stage demonstrated good antiplasmodial activities for samples A and B, with IC₅₀ (μg/mL) values of 0.939 ± 0.04 and 0.318 ± 0.01, respectively. Sample C yielded an IC₅₀ (μg/mL) value of 15.09 ± 0.319. In conclusion, the three products are antiplasmodial agents and are safe in the rodent model.