Bioassay Guided Fractionation and in vitro Anti-plasmodial Activity of Ficus deltoidea and Ficus benjamina

Background: Malaria is infectious vector born disease affecting 212 million people belonging to 97 countries globally in the year 2016. Although this number has reduced progressively from last one decade but recent failure of currently available antimalarial drug therapy has accentuated the urgent need to explore different novel approaches in Anti-plasmodial drug discovery. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the Anti-plasmodial activity of traditional medicinal plants Ficus deltoidea and Ficus benjamina. Materials and Methods: Crude petroleum ether and hydro alcoholic extract of both the plant species were evaluated for Anti-plasmodial activity by schizont maturation inhibition assay using 3D7 plasmodium strains. Results: It was observed that petroleum ether extract of F. benjamina leaves showed most promising inhibitory effect on the growth of schizonts with IC₅₀ 14.5 μg/ml. Bio-assay guided fractionation of petroleum ether extract of F. benjamina led to the hexane and chloroform fraction with high Anti-plasmodial activity (IC₅₀ 4.0 μg/ml and IC₅₀ 7.8 μg/ml respectively). Further, phytochemical investigation of F. benjamina indicated the presence of various valuable phytochemicals belonging to class of steroids, terpenoids and phytosterols. Conclusion: This study has revealed the Anti-plasmodial activity of F. deltoidea and F. benjamina for the first time. Significant Anti-plasmodial activity and preliminary phytochemical studies of F. benjamina indicates its rich chemical diversity which make this plant a good candidate for isolating new molecule that could serve as new lead in Anti-plasmodial drug discovery.