The Antimalarial and Antimicrobial Activity and Brine Shrimp Toxicity of Clematis brachiata Extracts

F A Okalebo; H A Rabah; A N Guantai; C K Maitai; I O Kibwage; J W Mwangi; W Masengo

F A Okalebo Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi
H A Rabah Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi
A N Guantai Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi
C K Maitai Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi
I O Kibwage Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nairobi
J W Mwangi Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi
W Masengo Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi

Keywords: Clematis brachiata, Ranunculaceae, antimalarial, antibacterial, antifungal, brine shrimp

Abstract

The in vitro antimalarial activity of the root extract in partly supports the
ethnobotanical use of the plant to manage malaria. Clematis brachiata Thunberg
(Ranunculaceae) is used in Kenya for the management of headaches, malaria and
other febrile illnesses, abdominal disorders, yaws and for skin disorders. Old stems
and leaves are chewed for the management of toothaches and sore throats. Extracts
of the plant were subjected to tests for antimalarial, antibacterial and antifungal
activity. The toxicity of the extracts was assessed using the brine shrimp lethality
bioassay. The root extract gave the highest in vitro antimalarial activity against the
mulitidrug resistant strain, Plasmodium falciparum VWS (ICS0=39.24 mcglml). The
stem and leaf extracts had insignificant antiplasmodial activity. The leaf, stem and
root extracts had no bacterial or fungal inhibitory effects even at very high
concentrations of 10 mglml. The LDSo values of the stem and leaf methanol extracts
against the brine shrimp larvae was 365.60 and 66.5 mcglml, respectively.