Abstract

Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) and Mirabilis jalapa L. (Nyctaginaceae) are medicinal plants used extensively in almost all folklore remedies around the world to treat malaria. This experiment investigated the effects of M. charantia L. and M. jalapa L. on malaria in a 4-day suppressive test. Animals received 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg of methanolic extracts orally. M. charantia and M. jalapa methanolic extracts had intrinsic antimalarial properties that were dose-dependent. The result showed that M. charantia was effective in suppressing malaria at the highest dose tested (200 mg/kg) while M. jalapa gave the highest chemosuppression of parasitemia at the lowest tested dose of 50 mg/kg body weight of mice. The result also showed that the standard reference drug, Chloroquine, had its highest chemosuppression of parasitemia (100%) at 20 mg/kg when administered orally. This research affirms the uses of these plants for the treatment of malaria.

Key words: Antimalarial, Plasmodium berghei, M. charantia, M. jalapa.