Activity of Herbal Medicines on XXXX Gametocytes: Implications for @entity311 Transmission in Ghana.

@entity311 @entity138 @entity507 @entity3964
BACKGROUND: @entity311 still remains a major health issue in Ghana despite the introduction of @entity507 -based combination therapy (ACT) coupled with other preventative measures such as the use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs). The global quest for eradication of @entity311 has heightened the interest of identifying drugs that target the sexual stage of the parasite, referred to as transmission-blocking drugs. This study aimed at assessing the efficacy and gametocydal effects of some commonly used herbal @entity311 products in Ghana. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: After identifying herbal anti-malarial products frequently purchased on the Ghanaian market, ten of them were selected and lyophilized. In vitro drug sensitivity testing of different concentrations of the herbal products was carried out on asexual and in vitro generated gametocytes of the 3D7 strain of @entity3964 . The efficacies of the products were assessed by microscopy. Cultures containing low dose of @entity138 also produced the least number of late stage gametocytes. Two of the herbal products CM and @entity138 inhibited the growth of late stage gametocytes by > 80% at 100  g/ml whilst KG was the most inhibitory to early stage gametocytes at that same concentration. However at 1  g/ml, only YF significantly inhibited the survival of late stage gametocytes although at that same concentration YF barely inhibited the survival of early stage gametocytes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Herbal product @entity138 (Aloe schweinfurthii, Khaya senegalensis, Piliostigma thonningii and Cassia siamea) demonstrated properties of a highly efficacious gametocydal product. Low dose of herbal product @entity138 exhibited the highest gametocydal activity and at 100  g/ml, @entity138 exhibited >80% inhibition of late stage gametocytes. However inhibition of asexual stage parasite by @entity138 was not optimal. Improving the asexual inhibition of @entity138 could convert @entity138 into an ideal antimalarial herbal product. We also found that generally C. sanguinolenta containing herbal products exhibited gametocydal activity in addition to high asexual efficacy. Herbal products with high gametocydal activity can help in the fight to reduce @entity311 transmission.
