IN VITRO ANTIMALARIAL POTENCY OF ELEUTHERINE BULBOSA AND ITS EFFECT ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the potential inhibitory effects of Eleutherine bulbosa on the growth of Plasmodium falciparum and its toxiceffects on lymphocyte cells.Methods: We performed a 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) test of E. bulbosa against P. falciparum, used transmission electron microscopy (TEM)to observe Plasmodium morphology after exposure to E. bulbosa, and determined E. bulbosa’s cytotoxic concentration 50% (CC50) against lymphocytes.Results: The IC50 value of E. bulbosa was 0.62 μg/ml. We observed crystals in the mitochondria of parasites under TEM. CC50 values at 24 h and 72 hwere 851.14 μg/ml and 707.94 μg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: The main content of E. bulbosa is naphthoquinones that are suspected of having a mitochondrial target on the malaria parasite. E. bulbosais not toxic to lymphocytes; therefore, it has a potential as an antimalarial therapeutic.