Antimalaria Activity of Macaranga Gigantea Leaves Extracts

Abstract

The utilization of traditional medicinal plants to medicate malaria caused by Plasmodium is currently more increased along with drug resistance and rising drug prices, and the side effects of using modern medicine. Additionally, Macaranga gigantea plant species have a unique ecological function such as a pioneer plant with good morphological and physiological adaptability to extreme conditions in dealing with natural stress due to pests, temperatures, and UV rays. Therefore, they have a unique biochemical system and a variety of new natural bioactive compounds produced with various activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiviral in the forest. As the results of previous study, antimalarial activity was shown on the bioactivity of methanol leaves extract of Merkubung (Macaranga gigantea). In short, this study aimed to obtain an active antimalarial fraction of Merkubung leaf (Macaranga gigantea). In this case, fractionation of methanol extract of Merkubung leaf (Macaranga gigantea) was carried out by using different organic solvents followed by an antimalarial bioactivity test using Plasmodium berghei. The results indicated that ethanol fraction of Merkubung left (Macaranga gigantea) had better antimalarial activity than others as a new candidate and supplemental source of antimalarial drugs.   Keyword:  Macaranga gigantea, malaria, Plasmodium berghei, fraction