The Anti-malarial Potential of the Alkaloids Present in Mangifera indica Linn Leaves Extract

Abstract

With the continuous emergence of malaria infected cases as a result of rise in resistance to antimalarial 
drugs, the search for alternative anti-malarial therapy in the management of these malaria parasites using 
plant extracts has been on the rise. In this research the extract of Mangifera indica Linn plant leaves was 
investigated for the presence of alkaloids and their use as antimalarial agents. The M. indica L. leaves tested 
positive for the presence of alkaloids. The antimalarial test was carried out at 24 and 48 hours incubation 
using a blood sample containing 5 % parasitaemia and Artemether as a standard control was used to 
determine the antiplasmodial activity of the plant leaves extract. All the different concentrations of the plant 
extracts; 10 mgml-1, 5 mgml-1, 2.5 mgml-1 and 1.25 mgml-1 tested positive for antimalarial activity when 
screened. The highest concentration 10 mgml-1 showed the most elimination of the malaria parasite at both 
24 and 48 hours. The leaves extracts of Mangifera indica Linn showed a 56 % elimination of Plasmodium 
falciparum. The investigation results of the antimalarial activity are promising and show that Mangofera 
indica Linn could be used in the management of malaria.