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  • Title: Azadirachta indica extract-artesunic acid combination produces an increased cure rate of Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.
    Author: Anagu OL, Attama AA, Okore VC, Gugu HT, Ngene AA, Esimone CO.
    Journal: Pharm Biol; 2014 Jul; 52(7):883-9. PubMed ID: 24517279.
    Abstract:
    CONTEXT: Available artemisinin-combination therapies (ACTs) are expensive. Various traditional herbal remedies for malaria involve plants, proven scientifically to have antiplasmodial effects, e.g., Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae). OBJECTIVE: Combination of an artemisinin-based compound and a medicinal herb extract will provide an indigenous alternative/herb-based ACT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The in vivo schizontocidal activity of the crude aqueous extract of 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of A. indica fresh leaves (NCE) and 6, 15, and 20 mg/kg of artesunic acid were determined, alone and in combination, while keeping the dose of artesunic acid constant at 15 mg/kg, using the Peter's 4-day suppressive test and Swiss albino mice. The ED50 was calculated from the dose-response relationships. Percentage survival and cure were also determined. RESULTS: The average yield of two extractions of NCE was 8.33 ± 1.67%. Combination of 1000 mg/kg of NCE and 15 mg/kg of artesunic acid, produced a significant reduction of parasitemia (96.87%), compared to 20 mg/kg of artesunic acid alone (68.14%). The combination had an ED50 of 0.58 mg/kg while that of artesunic acid alone was 8.814 mg/kg. The combinations of NCE with artesunic acid produced a cure, although the artesunic acid did not produce a cure in 30 d. DISCUSSION: NCE increased the activity of artesunic acid in terms of reduction in parasitemia, and increased survival time and cure rate. CONCLUSION: The combination of an artemisinin and aqueous extract of neem leaf is possible, providing a potentiated reduction of parasitemia, and increased cure rate.
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