Evaluation of the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of Millettia zechiana and its action on the evolution of anemia in albino rats

Background: Malaria is a parasitic infection that leads to anaemia and death. Unfortunately, the upsurge of chemo-resistance prompted researchers to focus on new antimalarial drugs. Objectives: The aim of this work was to evaluate the antiplasmodial and antianemic activity of Millettia zechiana. Methods: the In vitro activity was assessed on clinical isolates and on the standard strain of Plasmodium falciparum K1, using the SYBR green I test. Moreover, the antianemic activity was evaluated in phenyl hydrazine induced anemic albino rats. Results/discussion: The ethyl acetate and hydroethanolic extract exhibited an antiplasmodial activity with IC50s of 6.14 and 12.14 μg/mL respectively on Plasmodium falciparum K1 strain. As for the in vivo antianemic activity, the ethyl acetate extract was the most active with better hematological reconstitution percentages. The presence of chemical compounds such as alkaloids, terpenoids and quinonic substances in both extracts, could be responsible for their activities. Conclusion: Millettia zechiana could be a potential source for novel antimalarial drugs and might be used as an improved traditional medicine on account of its  availability.