PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND IN VITRO ANTI-PLASMODIAL ACTIVITY OF Jatropha tanjorensis LEAF EXTRACTS AGAINST Plasmodium falciparum

The challenge of antimalarial drug resistance necessitates scientific research to validate herbal preparations as cost-effective and accessible alternative therapies with equal or superior efficacy to synthetic drugs. This study evaluates the phytochemical constituents and anti-plasmodial activity of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extracts against Plasmodium falciparum. Extracts were obtained through crude and sequential maceration methods, and their phytochemical constituents were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using standard techniques. The P. falciparum-infected blood samples were cultured in vitro, and the susceptibility of the fresh isolates to artemether oil-based injection was evaluated. The isolates with the highest IC50 values for artemether were further assessed for in vitro susceptibility to the crude extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves. The results indicated the presence of cardiac glycosides, tannins, phenols, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, proteins, and amino acids in the crude leaf extracts of J. tanjorensis. Among the extracts, ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest total phytochemical content, particularly in tannins, phenols, saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The P. falciparum isolates showed susceptibility to artemether, with IC50 values ranging from 0.24 to 0.77 µmol/L. The ethyl acetate extract also demonstrated significant anti-plasmodial activity against the isolates, with IC50 values of 4.77 µg/ml and 4.98 µg/ml at the early and late trophozoite stages of the P. falciparum intraerythrocytic cycle respectively. These findings highlight the potential of ethyl acetate extract of J. tanjorensis leaf as a natural antimalarial agent, necessitating additional research into its therapeutic potential.