Antimalarial Activity and Toxicity Study of Extracts of L. and (L.) Gaertn. from the Asteraceae Family.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the antimalarial effects and toxicity of the extracts of the flowers of L. and the leaves of (L.) Gaertn. in a mouse model.

METHODS

To determine the antimalarial activity of the extracts, mice were intraperitoneally injected with the ANKA strain and then administered or extract daily for 4 days. Parasitemia was observed by light microscopy. For the detection of acute toxicity, the mice received a single dose of or extract and were observed for 14 days. Biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function and the histopathology of liver and kidney tissues of the acute toxicity group were then examined.

RESULTS

and crude extracts at a dose of 600 mg/kg body weight significantly suppressed parasitemia in malaria-infected mice by 65.65% and 62.65%, respectively. Mice treated with 400 mg/kg and crude extracts showed 50.82% and 57.67% suppression, and mice treated with 200 mg/kg displayed 26.33% and 38.57% suppression, respectively. Additionally, no symptoms of acute toxicity were observed in the and -treated groups. Moreover, no significant alterations in the biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function and no histological changes in the liver or kidney tissues were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that both and extracts have antimalarial properties with less toxic effects. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of the active compounds from both plants.