Effectiveness of Andrographis Paniculata
Leaf Extract as an Antimalarial Through Plasmodium Heme Polymerization
Inhibition
Brian Limantoro1, Jovan Dewanta
Nathanael2, Devita Aulia Athifa3,
Felice Kanaya Chandra4*, Assyifa Aulia Zahra5, Muhammad Imam Rizqi
Ramadhan6, Genova Alfonso7, Irhentya
Dwi Putri Lestari8, Isma Dian Artika9, Nadia Zelda Maulida Arisanti10, Reinhan
Djunaedi11, Kenley Nathanael12
Airlangga University,� Indonesia
Airlangga University, Indonesia
Udayana University, Indonesia
Email: [email protected]
� Corresponding : Felice Kanaya Chandra
Abstract |
|
andrographolide, genetic resistance, heme
polymerization, malaria, Plasmodium |
Malaria is a
significant public health challenge in the tropics, including Indonesia. The
disease is caused by the Plasmodium parasite� which is transmitted through the
bite of the Anopheles mosquito. Although various antimalarial drugs have been
developed, drug resistance by Plasmodium has led to a decrease in the
effectiveness of conventional treatments such as chloroquine and artemisinin.
Therefore, the exploration of alternative treatment is important, including
the use of medicinal plants such as Andrographis paniculata (sambiloto) which contains the active compound andrographolida. This study
aims to analyze the potential of Andrographis paniculata as an antimalarial
agent through inhibition of heme polymerization in Plasmodium parasites. The
research approach used is a literature review by collecting literature from
reputable journals published in the last decade. The data were analyzed
descriptively to identify the mechanism of action, effectiveness, and
pharmacological implications of sambiloto in the
treatment of malaria. The results
showed that sabiloto leaf extract, especially
andrographolide compounds, had the ability to inhibit heme polymerization,
which is important in the life cycle of Plasmodium. Laboratory tests showed
that sambiloto extract had an IC50 that was close
to the effectiveness of standard drugs such as chloroquine, with low
toxicity. In addition, proper extraction methods can improve the stability
and effectiveness of these active compounds. The implication of this study is
the importance of developing a standard formulation of Andrographis
paniculata extract as an alternative or complementary to antimalarial
therapy. � 2024 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access
publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY SA) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). |
1 Introduction
Malaria remains a formidable
public health challenge in several developing countries located in the tropics,
including Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia. In 2019, malaria
prevalence was recorded at 227 million confirmed cases across Africa, South
Asia, and Southeast Asia, with this number increasing to 241 million cases in
2020 (World Health Organization Press, 2021). In Indonesia, malaria continues
to be rampant, especially on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan (World
Health Organization Press, 2021). This tropical disease is caused by about 250
species of protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which are mainly
transmitted by vector insects, especially mosquitoes. Of these 250 protozoan
species, 27 have been identified to be capable of infecting various primates
around the world
In humans, protozoan species
responsible for malaria include Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax,
Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae
Several therapeutic methods have
been developed for the treatment of malaria; However, the effectiveness of
these treatments can diminish over time due to the appearance of resistance.
This resistance arises through a process of selective pressure applied to
individual members of a particular species by certain drugs
In Indonesia, abundant natural
resources, including medicinal plants, offer promising alternatives to malaria
treatment. One such plant is Cinchona succirubra Pav.
Ex Klotzsch, known for its quinine rich bark, an
alkaloid with a content of more than 7% (Ministry of Health of the Republic of
Indonesia, publication date not available). Kinin is effective against all
species of Plasmodium and functions as schizontosides
and gametocides, making it a frequent recommendation for the treatment of
malaria. The process of utilizing quinine from cinchona bark involves isolating
the desired alkaloids, extracting quinine using appropriate chemical solvents,
and identifying and characterizing quinine alkaloids
However, malaria remains a
significant public health threat in Indonesia, especially in remote areas such
as Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, and Kalimantan, which report the highest
incidence of malaria each year. Based on a report by the Indonesian Ministry of
Health, despite ongoing eradication efforts, Indonesia recorded more than 200
thousand cases of malaria in 2023, with some regions showing an increase in
prevalence
In addition, resistance to
treatment is a growing challenge. Genetic mutations in Plasmodium falciparum
have affected the effectiveness of several therapies, including kinin. This
phenomenon emphasizes the need for new treatment alternatives that are more
adaptive to drug-resistant malaria strains. On the other hand, overharvesting
and global dependence on cinchona have led to a significant decline in
functional cinchona forests. This dependence is particularly acute in tropical
and subtropical regions, where cinchona is considered the only effective
antimalarial crop
Therefore, exploring and
developing alternative medicinal plants for malaria treatment is essential to
reduce dependence on cinchona, overcome drug resistance, and ensure sustainable
and efficient management of malaria in the future. Recently, Andrographis
paniculata, commonly known as sambiloto, has
attracted significant attention as a potential alternative to malaria therapy.
This medicinal plant that belongs to the Acanthaceae
family and was originally found in China is known in traditional medicine as
Chuan Xin Lian
Andrographolide is the main
active compound in sambioto leaves, known for its
hepatoprotective effects, which protect liver hepatocytes. It also exhibits
anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and antimalarial properties by inhibiting the
growth of Plasmodium parasites such as Plasmodium berghei
and Plasmodium falciparum. In addition, andrographolide has an antimicrobial
effect against various pathogens in the human body. In addition to
andrographolide, other significant active compounds in sambiloto
leaves include neoandrographolide, 14-deoxy
11,12-didehydroandrographolide, 14-deoxyandrographolide, isoandrographolide,
homoandrographolide, andrographan,
19-β-D-glucoside, andrographosterol, and
stigmasterol (Anas et al., 2020). The antimalarial effect on Plasmodium
falciparum has been shown in vitro using ethanol extract of sambiloto
herb
Therefore, a revolutionary
extraction method that maintains the chemical stability of andrographolide is
essential to process sambiloto leaves into
high-quality standard herbal products. One promising method is hydrotropic
extraction, which uses hydrotropic agents and operates under low temperature
and pressure conditions, minimizing the degradation of andrographolides, which
are less soluble in water (Anas et al., 2020). Further pharmacological studies
on the effects of sambiloto on malaria-causing
parasites can be carried out after the herbal extract is obtained through this
advanced extraction method.�
2 Materials and Methods
Type of Research
This research is a type of
qualitative descriptive research that aims to understand certain phenomena
based on scientific literature and empirical data. The focus of the study is to
analyze the potential and effectiveness of Andrographis paniculata leaf extract
as an antimalarial agent.
Research Approach
The research approach used is
literature review. The data analyzed came from relevant scientific articles,
journals, and research reports, accessed through academic databases such as
ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar.
Population and Sample
The study population is all
literature related to antimalarial and Andrographis paniculata published in the
last ten years. Samples were taken using purposive sampling techniques, with
selection criteria including: Research relevant to the treatment of malaria and
the pharmacological properties of Andrographis paniculata. Articles published
in reputable journals.
Data Collection Techniques
Data were collected through
document studies, with the following steps: Searching for scientific articles
using keywords such as "malaria," "Andrographis
paniculata," and "inhibition of heme polymerization." Segment
data based on topical relevance, methods, and research results. Validate
sources by prioritizing literature from reputable journals.
Data Analysis Techniques
The data analysis technique is
carried out qualitatively-descriptively through the following steps: Reading
and understanding the selected literature. Identifying the mechanism of action
of Andrographis paniculata in the treatment of malaria. Comparing the findings
of the literature related to the antimalarial efficacy of Andrographis
paniculata. Drawing conclusions based on patterns found in the literature.
3 Results and Discussion
In contemporary times, the main antimalarial
compounds known to control the growth of malaria parasites are chloroquine and
artemisinin. These compounds inhibit the fundamental processes necessary for Plasmodium
parasites� to
replicate and infect the host more aggressively during its maturation phase.
Historically, chloroquine functions as an antimalarial by blocking the
crystallization of beta-hematin within the host's red blood cells
Regarding artemisinin, although the exact
antimalarial mechanism is still somewhat unclear, it is believed that
artemisinin produces free radicals after activation by the heme group of red
blood cells, which causes oxidative damage to red blood cell proteins
Despite the advancements, recent advances
include semi-synthetic derivatives of artemisinin, such as artemether,
artesunate, and arteeter. This derivative, as
illustrated in Figure 1, is converted into the active metabolite dihydroartemisinin, which plays an important role in modern
malaria treatment regimens
Figure 1. Formulations or
Combinations of New Approved Antimalarial Drugs (Tse, Korsik,
and Todd, (2019).
Due to increased resistance and
reduced effectiveness, chloroquine and artemisinin can no longer function as
stand-alone antimalarial treatments. To increase the efficacy of antimalarial
drugs in targeting malaria parasites that thrive in red blood cells,
alternative or complementary compounds are needed. Among these alternatives,
andrographolide�a flavonoid compound found in Andrographis paniculata (sambiloto)�has shown significant pharmacological effects,
including antimicrobial, antitumor, and antimalarial properties.
Andrographolide is extracted
from sambiloto leaves or herbs through a special
method, as conventional extraction techniques can lead to degradation of these
compounds due to overheating (Anas et al., 2020). Its antioxidant properties
contribute to its role as an antimicrobial and antitumor agent, with potential
applications in treating early-stage breast cancer
Figure 2. Oxidative Damage
to Cell Membranes and Antioxidant Protection (Nwazue
et al., 2014).
Historically, various plant extracts have been explored for their
antimalarial potential. Important examples include Phyllanthus amarus, which has shown reliable antimalarial activity
in antiplasmodium tests in vivo, and the ethanol
fraction of garlic, which is reported to be more effective in inhibiting heme
polymerization compared to n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions
Table 1. Presenting
observations of the effectiveness of various candidates of sambiloto
leaf extract modified with specific compounds at different concentrations,
showing variations in cytotoxicity levels in IC50 parameters.
Table 2. Displaying the results
of the cytotoxicity test of sambiloto leaf extract
candidate at LC50 parameters.
Figure 3. Saltwater Shrimp
Lethality Test Methodology (BSLT) for Cytotoxicity Evaluation.
Based on the results presented in Tables 1
and 2, it is evident that the three types of sambiloto
leaf extract show significant potential in inhibiting heme polymerization.
Among them, 70% ethanol extract shows the highest effectiveness. This is due to
the higher concentration of chemical compounds compared to n-hexane and ethyl
acetate extracts. The same study revealed that flavonoids, saponins, and
tannins�present exclusively in 70% ethanol extracts�play an important role in
antimalarial activity. For example, flavonoids can inhibit heme polymerization
by forming quercetin-heme complexes, tannins can inhibit the growth of
Anopheles mosquitoes, and saponins also contribute to antimalarial effects
Further research supports these findings,
highlighting the antimalarial ability of andrographolide extracted from sabiloto leaves. A study by
The tablets are prepared using two unique
techniques: wet granulation and dry dispersion, resulting in three different
phytopharmaceutical products. These include Tablet I (wet granulation of
Fraction A), Tablet II (wet granulation of Fraction B), and Tablet III (dry
dispersion of Fraction B) (Widyawaruyanti et al.,
2014). The antimalarial activity of these tablets was evaluated using the Peter
test, a 4-day suppression test, in which the tablets were administered orally
to infected rats at a dose of 12.55 mg andrographolide/kg suspended in a 0.5% CMCNa solution. The mice that received only 0.5% of CMCNa served as a negative control.
On the fifth day, blood samples were taken
from each mouse to determine the level of parasitemia by counting the number of
infected red blood cells among a thousand randomly selected cells under a
microscope. Parasitemia inhibition is calculated by reducing the proportion of
infected red blood cells in the test sample from a negative control, with the
result expressed as a percentage of inhibition.
A study by Widyawaruyanti
et al. (2014) showed that all three tablet formulations inhibited the growth of
parasites in the blood, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness, as
evidenced by different percentage inhibition levels. The andrographolide dose
was consistent across all treatments at 25.10 mg/kg/day
Table 3. provides detailed observations on
the antiplasmodial activity of Tablets I, II, and
III, reflecting their various efficacy in inhibiting malaria parasites.
Additional Information:
a. The data were expressed as
mean � standard deviation for five mice per group with F = 53.789.
b. P < 0.001; comparison
with control.
Interpretation:
�
Tablets I, II, and III showed significant inhibition of
parasitemia compared to the control group, as indicated by a P-value of less
than 0.001.
�
Tablet I, Tablet II, and Tablet III showed varying levels of
efficacy, as evidenced by different percentages of average parasitemia.
Statistical analysis confirms that the difference is significant.
This detailed table and
additional information underscores the effectiveness of
andrographolide-containing tablets in inhibiting the growth of malaria
parasites, demonstrating their potential as a therapeutic option in the treatment of malaria. Based on the data presented in Table 3 and
analyzed using a one-way ANOVA at a confidence level of 95%, significant
differences were observed between Tablet I and Tablet II, as well as between
Tablet I and Tablet III. In contrast, the difference between Tablet II and
Tablet III is not statistically significant. These findings suggest that the
main factor influencing the antimalarial activity of tablets is the
concentration of the active substances they contain, not the method of
preparation of the tablets. In particular, Tablet I, which is based on less
pure extracts, shows a more pronounced antimalarial effect compared to Tablets
II and III. Tablets II and III use andrographolide extracted from a purer
source (AP Fraction B Extract), which increases its concentration and potency.
This shows that the purification process significantly increases the
effectiveness of andrographolide as an antimalarial agent. As a result, higher
concentrations of active andrographolides in Tablets II and III resulted in
greater antimalarial efficacy, highlighting the importance of purification of
the extract in maximizing the therapeutic potential of the tablets.
4 Conclusion
The sambiloto
plant, although not yet widely recognized, has shown significant potential in
vitro and in vivo studies as an alternative treatment for malaria, comparable
to the chloroquine of the cinchona plant. Sambiloto
leaves or herbs are able to inhibit heme polymerization in Plasmodium
parasites, especially Plasmodium falciparum, the main cause of tropical
malaria, with high efficacy because it has not been affected by genetic
resistance factors. Andrographolide compounds, found in sambioto
leaves or herbs, offer a variety of therapeutic benefits. In addition to acting
as an antioxidant that protects the body from oxidative damage, andrographolide
also functions as an antimicrobial in several vital organs, as an antitumor
agent in early-stage breast cancer, and as a hepatoprotector
that protects the liver.
Therefore, the extraction of
andrographolide should be done using proper techniques that follow its physical
and chemical characteristics to ensure that the resulting extract is effective
in enhancing the antimalarial mechanism. The most effective extracts for
treating malaria are those with high concentrations of andrographolide. This
can be achieved through purification methods that remove unwanted compounds,
resulting in an optimal andrographolide composition. Thus, the extract can
provide maximum pharmacological effects with minimal risk of toxicity and
unwanted side effects. Further research in clinical trials is needed to ascertain the
procedure and safety of sambiloto leaf extract when
consumed by humans, as well as its effectiveness in the human body. Testing on
individuals of simple complexity provides only a basic frame of reference, but
additional studies are needed to validate its comprehensive efficacy and safety
in more complex and diverse human populations.
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