Antimalarial activity of aqueous extract from the species Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Srpeng growing in Venezuela

Actividad antimalárica del extracto acuoso de la especie Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Srpeng cultivada en Venezuela

Resumen

Plectranthus amboinicus, a medicinal species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, currently classified under the scientific name Coleus amboinicus Lour, it is widely distributed and recognized worldwide. However, its exact origin remains uncertain, with both India and Africa frequently cited as potential sources. Extensive literature reports highlight the pharmacological activity of its extracts and essential oils, which have been studied in various regions and cultures. In Venezuela, this plant is used as a diuretic and is traditionally used to treat ailments such as fever, cough, digestive disorders, and headaches. Due to its pleiotropic effects, the antimalarial activity of an aqueous extract obtained by the decoction of its leaves was determined in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, in addition to evaluating its risk-benefit balance through toxicological parameters that demonstrate that it has no hepatotoxic or hemotoxic effects. The results obtained in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei indicated that although a reduction in parasite density and an increase in post-infection survival was observed, this was not comparable to that observed in the control group treated with Chloroquine, suggesting that the aqueous extract does not have antimalarial properties. However, it could be used as an adjuvant with other conventional antimalarial drugs currently used in therapeutics.