TITLE:
Indian Anti-Malaria OMARIA Is Effective Against African Drug Resistant P. falciparum Field Isolates and Laboratory Strains; without Toxicity
AUTHORS:
Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki, Deepak Bhattacharya, Rafika Zatra, Fousseyni S. Toure-Ndouo
KEYWORDS:
Fruit Extracts; OMARIA, Antiplasmodial Activity; Asia-Africa Efficacy; Cytotoxicity; Drug Resistant-Field Isolates; Plasmodium Falciparum
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.3 No.1,
January
5,
2012
ABSTRACT: OMARIA which is used to treat malaria in Odisa province, India, was investigated in Africa. The in-vitro anti-malarial activity of OMARIA was tested on P. falciparum strains FCB (chloroquine-resistant) and 3D7 (chloroquine-sensitive) and on fresh clinical isolates from Gabon, using the DELI method. Host cell toxicity was analysed with the MTT test. Interesting activity was observed. Inhibition concentrations (IC50) were 20.6 ± 5.2 μg/ml and 14.1 ± 4.3μg/ml respectively on FCB and 3D7 strains. On clinical isolates, the mean of IC50 was 10.65 ± 4.8μg/ml. OMARIA is highly potent against all field isolates tested by us (Gabon includes Pfmdr1 N86). Lethal dose on Vero cells being 165 ± 10.7μg/ml indicate a selective index of 13 for FCB, i.e., non-toxic. Data substantiates scientific rationale for use of OMARIA. This information and such understanding can be used in searching African phyto parables (for use in Africa with similar results as in India) and in new drug design. With Indian assistance, Punica granatum can also be cultivated in Central Africa, and OMARIA can be made, with an aim to Fight Malaria at Home.