Antiplasmodial, antioxidant, antipyretic and cyto-toxic activities of hydroethanolic extract of <i>Phyllanthus niruri</i> (Linn), <i>Sida acuta</i> (Burm) and their combination

The resistance of Plasmodium, to medications is hindering malaria eradication efforts. As a reason, the search for treatments has become crucial. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effectiveness of a malaria treatment recipe containing extracts from Phyllanthus niruri Linn and Sida acuta Burm. The study evaluated antioxidant activity by phosphomolybdate reduction and the FRAP method; antimalarial activity was assessed on Plasmodium falciparum field isolates in vitro; antipyretic activity using yeast induced hyperthermia and measured cytotoxicity with the MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -5- (3- carboxymethoxyphenyl) -2- (4- sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay. The P. niruri extract showed the best antioxidant activity with concentrations of 0.09 ± 0.00 mg AAE/g extract using the phosphomolybdate reduction method and 267.17 ± 25.66 µmol Eq Fe2+/mg extract using the FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) method respectively. The different extracts and their combination demonstrated effects on P. falciparum fields with IC50 (Concentration of the substance that inhibited 50% of parasites) values ranging between 0.19 to 2.68 µg/ml (IC50 < 5 µg/mL). Additionally antipyretic activity results indicated that the combined extracts had effects compared to paracetamol a common reference drug. The results, from the cytotoxicity tests indicated that both extracts had a CC50 (The cytotoxic concentration for 50%) above 100 µg/mL. It was found that all plant extracts are non-toxic and when combined they exhibited intriguing biological effects.