Antiplasmodial and antioxidant activities, acute toxicity and phytochemistry of leaf extracts of Dalbergia katangensis Lechenaud

Malaria has a negative impact on the health of the population of endemic countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to highest morbidity. This situation gives rise to the reinforcement of the current means of its management and the use of plants constitutes one of the alternatives.
This study evaluates the antiplasmodial, antioxidant and toxic activities of the leaves of Dalbergia katangensis, a plant used in traditional Bukavian medicine against malaria. It also quantifies the phenols and flavonoids available to the plant.
Prussian blue test, aluminum trichloride test, pLDH assay, DPPH assay, and 14-day methods are used respectively for the determination of phenols and flavonoids and for evaluating of antiplasmodial, antioxidant and toxic activities. The results are analyzed by GraphPad with P value <0.05.
All extracts were found to be active and practically non-toxic. Methanol extract showed the highest antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 0.98 ± 0.1 μg / mL), antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.8 ± 0.1 μg / mL), the highest phenols (C = 350.1 ± 0.7 mg EQ / g; p <0.001), and the highest flavonoids (C = 82.2 ± 3.1 mg EQ / g; p <0.001) total content. The aqueous extract is the least toxic (LD50 = 8912.5 mg / Kg).
We conclude that Dalbergia katangensis's leaves are active on Plasmodium falciparum and practically non-toxic. Their use in traditional Congolese medicine against malaria would be justified.