HPLC Fingerprint Analysis with in - vitro Antimalarial Activity and Bioassay Guided Fractionation of Two Organic Extract from Ageratum conyzoides Leaves

A. Mulula, G. Mbiye

Abstract: We investigated the antimalarial activities of fractions from cyclohexane and dichloromethane extracts of Ageratum conyzoides Leaves. These extracts were fractionated using preparative - TLC and six fractions were obtained for each extract. The antimalarial activity of these fractions was evaluated against Plasmodium falciparum. Fractions 4 (F4) and 5 (F5) from dichloromethane extract showed the best antimalarial activities against the parasite with IC50 values of 0.25 and 0.30?g/mL, respectively. The HPLC profile of these most active fractions were developed and showed two and three major peaks respectively for fraction 4 (F4) and 5 (F5). Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids and terpenoids in the fraction 4, whereas only steroids and terpenoids were found in the fraction 5 (F5). Thus, these fractions could be considered as the prospective fractions to be developed as antimalarial drugs.

Keywords: Ageratum conyzoides, antimalarial activity, fractionation, HPLC, Thin Layer Chromatography, TLC