In <i>vitro</i> antimalarial activity, chloroquine potentiating effect and cytotoxicity of alkaloids of <i>Hernandia voyronii</i> Jum. (Hernandiaceae)

Abstract

Abstract Hernandia voyronii is traditionally used as adjuvant to chloroquine in Madagascar. Neutral and basic alkaloidal extracts of this plant were evaluated for their intrinsic in vitro antimalarial activity, cytotoxicity and chloroquine potentiating action against the chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain FCM29. Bioassay directed fractionation clearly demonstrated that both the intrinsic antimalarial activity and the chloroquine potentiating action was localized in the polar alkaloidal extract. Moreover, this extract had low cytotoxicity to HeLa cells and L929 fibroblasts. These results support the traditional use of H. voyronii as an antimalarial and adjuvant to chloroquine.