Search for antiplasmodial compounds from Ghanaian medicinal plants

Overview & Synopsis

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Bosomtwi and Sekyere East Districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana, using validated questionnaires to identify plants used traditionally to manage malaria. Five plants with high usage were selected and a preliminary extraction of the selected plant materials done using water, methanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether. The extracts were assayed for antiplasmodial activity using in vitro antiplasmodial methods. The two most promising plants, Phyllanthus fraternus (Phyllanthaceae) and Bambusa vulgaris (Pocea) were selected for bio-guided isolation of bioactive constituents using chromatographic methods (e.g. TLC, flash chromatography, semi-preparative HPLC). Structural elucidation of the isolated compounds were done using spectroscopic methods (e.g. 1D and 2D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Infrared and mass spectrometry) and their antiplasmodial activity studied.