An investigation of a traditional herbal therapy used to treat malaria in Kisii

Abstract

The plant Rhamnus prinoides L. Herit (Rhamnaceae) IS used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria among other diseases by the Kisii community. By using column chromatographic methods, geshoidin was isolated and tentatively identified. Other isolates were also obtained but were not identified. Allextracts were found to have in vitro antimalarial activity. The highest activitywas in the hexane and dichloromethane extracts with ICso values of 19.9 /lgjml and 30.3 /lgjml,respectively. None of the extracts showed toxicityin the brine shrimp test. This study provides scientific basis for the use of the plant part in the treatment ofmalaria by the herbalist in Kisii