Antimalarial Potential of Plants Used as Chewing Sticks for Oral Hygiene in Rural Areas of Rajasthan, India

The present study was planned to evaluate antiplasmodial activity of two plants Azadirachta indica and Acacia nilotica regularly used in primary health care and oral hygiene in rural areas of Rajasthan, India. The aim was to corroborate how traditional practices using chewing sticks (Fresh twigs of medicinal plants in place of tooth brush) in relation to control of malaria. The In vitro antimalarial activity of fresh twigs of Azadirachta Indica (neem) and Acacia nilotica (Babul) were evaluated against chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain by light microscopy using Giemsa-stained smears. Azadirachta indica most commonly used in the area showed promising antiplasmodial activity with IC50 of 39.86 μg/mL as compared to Acacia nilotica the IC50 value ranged beyond 50 μg/mL (IC50 77.78 μg/mL). Both the plants studied under present investigation are known for their medicinal properties, regular use may provide a solution for better management of the disease in malaria risk areas.

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