Sains Malaysiana 41(12)(2012): 1535–1542

 

In vitro and in vivo Anti-plasmodial Activities of Gynura procumbens

(Kajian in vitro dan in vivo Aktiviti Anti-plasmodium Ekstrak Gynura procumbens)

 

Visalini Vejanan¹, Jalifah Latip², Lee Ping Chin³, Noor Embi¹ & Hasidah Mohd Sidek^1,*

 

¹School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM  Bangi

Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

³School of Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sabah,

88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

 

²School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM  Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

Received: 13 June 2012 / Accepted: 6 August 2012

 

ABSTRACT

Gynura procumbens, locally known in Malaysia as Sambung Nyawa is a medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. G. procumbens have been traditionally used by the local and indigenous populations to treat an array of ailments ranging from skin conditions and fever to kidney disease, inflammation and diabetes. In the present investigation, aqueous and ethanol extracts of G. procumbens were evaluated for anti-plasmodial activities in vitro and in vivo. Survival of two chloroquine-sensitive strains of malarial parasites; rodent Plasmodium berghei NK65 and human Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 was determined following incubations in vitro with extracts. Based on parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay, both extracts were shown to inhibit parasite proliferation to varying degrees. The aqueous extract was more potent than the ethanol extract at suppressing growth of both parasites in vitro; each displaying IC50 values of 12.40 ± 6.02 and 14.38 ± 7.53 μg/mL towards P. berghei NK65; and 25.69 ± 4.34 and 42.23 ± 7.19 μg/mL towards P. falciparum 3D7, respectively. The aqueous extract was found to be selective for P. falciparum (Selectivity Index 64.30). Four-day suppressive tests in ICR mice showed dose-dependent chemo-suppressive activities of both plant extracts tested towards P. berghei NK65. Daily intra-peritoneal injections of the aqueous extract of G. procumbens at 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg for four consecutive days showed chemo-suppression of 50.42 ± 3.17, 65.95 ± 5.48 and 81.92 ± 3.07%, respectively. At the same dosages, the ethanol plant extract resulted in 44.97 ± 3.44, 55.21 ± 3.87 and 64.44 ± 4.05% chemo-suppression respectively. At 250 mg/kg/day, only the aqueous plant extract gave >90% chemo-suppression (93.06 ± 5.46%). Treatment of P. berghei-infected mice with extracts improved the median survival time compared to non-treated infected mice. This represents the first report showing anti-plasmodial activity of G. procumbens.

 

Keywords: Anti-plasmodial; Asteraceae; Gynura procumbens; in vitro; in vivo

 

ABSTRAK

Gynura procumbens, yang lebih dikenali di Malaysia sebagai pokok Sambung Nyawa, merupakan tumbuhan ubatan daripada famili Asteraceae (Compositae). G. procumbens digunakan secara tradisional oleh penduduk tempatan termasuk Orang Asli untuk merawat jurang penyakit yang luas iaitu daripada penyakit kulit dan demam ke penyakit ginjal, inflamasi dan diabetes. Dalam kajian ini, ekstrak akueus dan etanol G. procumbens dinilai untuk aktiviti anti-plasmodium secara in vitro dan in vivo. Kemandirian dua strain parasit malaria sensitif-klorokuin iaitu strain roden Plasmodium berghei NK65 dan strain manusia Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 ditentukan selepas eraman in vitro bersama ekstrak. Berdasarkan pengasaian laktat dehidrogenase plasmodium (pLDH), kedua-dua ekstrak didapati merencat proliferasi parasit dengan perkadaran berbeza. Ekstrak akueus mempamerkan potensi perencatan parasitemia in vitro lebih baik berbanding dengan ekstrak etanol; setiap satu mempamerkan nilai IC50 12.40 ± 6.02 dan 14.38 ± 7.53 μg/mL terhadap P. berghei NK65; dan 25.69 ± 4.34 dan 42.23 ± 7.19 μg/mL terhadap P. falciparum 3D7. Ekstrak akueus didapati bersifat memilih terhadap P. falciparum (Indeks Pemilihan 64.30). Ujian kemo-penekanan empat hari dalam mencit ICR menunjukkan aktiviti kemo-penekanan terhadap P. berghei NK65 yang berkadaran dos bagi kedua-dua ekstrak tumbuhan yang diuji. Penyuntikan ekstrak akueus G. procumbens secara intra-peritonium selama empat hari berturut-turut ke atas mencit terinfeksi-P. berghei NK65 pada dos 25, 50 dan 100 mg/kg/hari masing-masing menunjukkan kemo-penekanan 50.42 ± 3.17, 65.95 ± 5.48 dan 81.92 ± 3.07%. Pada dos yang sama, ekstrak etanol masing-masing menyebabkan kemo-penekanan 44.97 ± 3.44, 55.21 ± 3.87 dan 64.44 ± 4.05%. Pada dos 250 mg/kg/hari, hanya ekstrak akueus memberi kemo-penekanan >90% (93.06 ± 5.46%). Perlakuan ekstrak akueus kepada mencit terinfeksi-P. berghei juga mampu meningkatkan median tempoh kemandirian mencit berbanding mencit terinfeksi tanpa perlakuan ekstrak. Penemuan ini merupakan laporan pertama mengenai aktiviti anti-plasmodium G. procumbens.

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*Corresponding author; email: hasidah@ukm.my