[Antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity of hydroalcoholic extracts from six plant species used in Cuban traditional medicine].

Introduction: Malaria is the most important parasitic disease for global health. Lack of the structural diversity in current antimalarials demands the urgent search for new therapeutic alternatives. The plants have shown their potential to provide effective antimalarials, therefore, a large sample of Cuban medicinal plants is being studied.

Objectives: To evaluate antimalarial activity of extracts from six plant species and to determine their selectivity by meassuring cytotoxicity against human cells.

Methods: Hydroalcoholic extracts from Annona glabra L., Bidens pilosa L., Cecropia peltata L., Curcuma longa L., Hura crepitans L. and Pluchea odorata (L.) Cass. were prepared. Their activity was evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum and human fibroblasts MRC-5. The mean inhibitory concentration, the mean cytotoxic concentration and the selectivity index were estimated. A preliminary phytochemical screening of the most active extract was made.

Results: H. cre-pitans extract was the only one that showed good antiplasmodial activity (mean inhibitory concentration of 5,7 microg/mL) with excellent selectivity (selectivity index of 18,8). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, alkaloids, quinones, flavonoids and anthocyanidins.

Conclusions: One extract with potent antimalarial activity in vitro was obtained. This result is an incentive to continue studying this vegetal preparation.