Constituents of Picralima nitida display pronounced inhibitory activities against asexual erythrocytic forms of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro

The antiplasmodial activities of organic and aqueous extracts from the West African plant Picralima nitida (Apocynaceae) were examined in an in vitro model, against asexual erythrocytic forms of Plasmodium falciparum. Root and leaf extracts of this species had never been examined before. Several extracts displayed considerable inhibitory activities. The highest activities were found in root, stem bark and fruit rind extracts, with IC50 values of 0.188, 0.545 and 1.581 μg/ml, respectively. The leaf and seed extracts generally yielded much lower activity or were completely inactive.