Corrigendum: The Ghanaian Flora as a Potential Source of Anthelmintic and Anti-Schistosomal Agents

Parasitic infections including schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminthiasis are the most commonly encountered Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the world. These diseases remain a major public health concern affecting millions of people especially those living in poor regions where access to effective conventional health care is a challenge. Interventions to control these infections in endemic areas have not been successful due to the high cost of drugs, limited availability as well as inequity of access to preventive chemotherapies. Another problem is the development resistance to the limited number of recommended medications due to their intensive use in both human and live-stock. There is an increasing awareness of the potential of natural products as chemotherapeutic agents to combat parasitic infections. Natural products may offer an unlimited source of chemically diverse drug molecules which may be safe, efficient, less toxic, less expensive and readily available for use especially in low-income countries. The Ghanaian flora provides such a ready source for new therapeutic interventions for the local population. Several researches have provided evidence of the anti-parasitic activity of Ghanaian medicinal plants. This chapter provides a review with special focus on medicinal plants collected from Ghana with anthelmintic and anti-schistosomal activity. Evidence of pharmacological activities of crude extracts, fractions and bioactive phytoconstituents as well as possible mechanisms of action where investigated are discussed

Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, Ghana

This study focused on documenting and evaluating the cercaricidal activity of medicinal plants used for schistosomiasis treatment in an endemic area in Ghana. Through semistructured questionnaires, personal interviews with herbalists in communities surrounding the Barekese dam in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district, where the disease is endemic, were carried out. Thirty medicinal plants distributed in 19 families were reported to be used for schistosomiasis treatment in the survey. Information on the plants, including scientific names, common names, families, and the used plant part were recorded. The families Apocynaceae and Euphorbiaceae recorded the highest number of plants (14% each), followed by Asteraceae (10%), Loranthaceae (7%), and Rubiaceae (7%). In vitro cercaricidal activity of methanol extracts of nine out of the thirty plants was performed by exposing human Schistosoma mansoni cercariae obtained from Biomphalaria pfeifferi to various concentrations of extracts over a duration of 240 minutes. All the plants tested demonstrated time- and concentration-dependent cercaricidal activity. With lethality being set at  Balanites aegyptiaca (LC50 = 7.1) > Xylia evansii (LC50 = 11.14) > Jathropha multifida (LC50 = 12.9) > Justicia flava (LC50 = 22.9) > Anopyxis klaineana (LC50 = 182.81) > Ximenia americana (LC50 = 194.98) > Loranthus lecardii (LC50 = 223.87) > Bridelia tenufolia (LC50 = 309.03) > Zanthoxylium zanthoxyloides (LC50 = 851.94). Phytochemicals, including alkaloids, tannins, triterpenes, saponins, phytosterols, and flavonoids were identified in the plants. The result of this study gives scientific credence to the traditional use of these plants in the treatment of schistosomiasis and proves that the rich botanical knowledge of medicinal plants provides an incredible starting point for the discovery of new anti-schistosomal drugs for the local population

In Vivo Antiplasmodial Activity of Different Solvent Extracts of Myrianthus libericus Stem Bark and Its Constituents in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

The emergence and resurgence of P. falciparum resistance to generations of antimalarial drugs have prompted the search for new, effective, and safe antimalarial agents. This study aimed at investigating the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the 70% hydroethanolic extract and constituents of the stem bark of Myrianthus libericus based on its ethnomedicinal use as an antimalarial agent. The antiplasmodial activity was assessed in Swiss albino mice employing the 4-day suppressive and Rane’s tests. MLB significantly (p<0.0001) suppressed parasitaemia by 52.26%, 65.40%, and 77.11% at 50, 100, and 200 mg·kg−1 doses, respectively, in the 4-day suppressive test. In Rane’s test, the highest parasitaemia suppression of 72.50% was recorded at a dose of 200 mg·kg−1 of the extract. Fractionation of the bioactive ethyl acetate fraction by solvent-solvent partitioning and column chromatography led to the isolation of friedelan-3-one and stigmasterol being reported for the first time from this species. The compounds demonstrated remarkable antiplasmodial activity by suppressing parasitaemia by 65–72% in the suppressive test and 61–70% in the curative test at doses of 10–30 mg·kg−1. Both the extract and the isolated compounds significantly prolonged the survival time of infected mice and averted the cardinal signs associated with P. berghei-induced malaria including weight loss, hypothermia, and haemolysis. The results obtained confirm the prospect of M. libericus as an important source of new antimalarial compounds and justifies its folkloric use as an antimalarial agent