Plasmodium falciparum: Assessment of Selectivity of Action of Chloroquine, Alchornea cordifolia, Ficus polita, and Other Drugs by a Tetrazolium-Based Colorimetric Assay.

A tetrazolium-based colorimetric selective assay (MTT-based CSA) was developed to assess the selectivity of antimalarial drugs. This in vitro assay, unlike all others, measures the ability of drugs to indirectly protect red blood cells (RBCs) from Plasmodium-falciparum-induced destruction. Optimum incubation time and number of cells needed were 5 days and 23 × 10(6) RBCs per well, respectively.

Comparative in vitro effects of AZT and extracts of Ocimum gratissimum, Ficus polita, Clausena anisata, Alchornea cordifolia, and Elaeophorbia drupifera against HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections.

The effects of Ocimum gratissimum (GHX-2), Ficus polita (GHX-6), Clausena anisata (GHX-7), Alchornea cordifolia (GHX-26), Elaeophorbia drupifera (GHX-27), and AZT on in vitro HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication and cytopathicity were compared. All plant extracts inhibited HIV-1 strain HTLVIII(B) cytopathicity, the leaves of GHX-2 and the seeds of GHX-26 having high antiviral indices (110 and 90, respectively). Against HIV-2 strain GH1, the EC(50) values ranged from <0.