Background objectives: The persistent threat of drug resistant malaria demands new cures. Low prevalence of malaria in the Indian state of Kerala compared with other proximal states made us explore if there is any traditional practice in Kerala which may confer protection against malaria. In this context, our attention was drawn to 'Pathimugam' i.e., Ceasalpinia sappan whose heartwood is used to prepare a red aqueous extract which is a uniquely popular drink in Kerala.
Methods: Aqueous and methanolic extracts of various organs of C. sappan were prepared and tested against Plasmodium falciparum grown in vitro culture using SYBR Green-I assay. The cytotoxicity of active extracts/fractions was studied using mammalian HeLa cell line. in vivo efficacy was determined using P. berghei ANKA infected mice.
Results: The highest antiplasmodial activities in the alcoholic and aqueous extracts were observed in leaf methanolic extract (IC50 2 μg/ml) and heartwood aqueous extract (IC50 12.5 μg/ml). Ceasalpinia sappan extracts were equipotent against both chloroquine-sensitive Pf3D7 and resistant PfINDO strains and showed suppression of percentage parasitemia in P. berghei infected mice. Activity- guided chromatographic fractionation of aqueous wood extract led to the fortification of antiplasmodial activity (IC50 5 μg/ml).
Interpretation conclusion: Our results establish the antiplasmodial potential of C. sappan and suggest that its regular use might have prophylactic or curative actions that may assist in keeping check on malaria in the Indian state of Kerala.
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