Preliminary Assessment of Selected Local Plants for Their Phytochemicals and Antimalarial Properties

Malaria remains a major health concern despite significant progress in both preventive and therapeutic measures during the 20th century. Globally malaria cause 229 million cases and 409,000 fatalities in 2019, while in 2021 it was responsible for 247 million cases and 619,000 fatalities. This study verified the antiplasmodial properties of Cassia sieberiana, Moringa oleifera, Senna siamea and Nuclea latifolia plants. The leaves, stem bark and roots of Cassia sieberiana, Moringa oleifera, Senna siamea and Nuclea latifolia in methanol extract showed alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, tannins, and saponins, carbohydrate and flavonoids. Antiplasmodial activity was also observed for the methanol extracts of Cassia sieberiana, Moringa oleifera, Senna siamea and Nuclea latifolia. From the results, these plants can search for free radicals and contains bioactive chemicals that can kill the malaria parasite. The methanol extract was shown to be the most effective of the two extracts tested, implying that the plants should be exploited in the development of novel antimalarial medicines.