Evaluation of Antiplasmodial and Antifungal Activity of Morinda morindoides (Baker) Milne-Redh (Rubiaceae), an Ivoirian Traditional Medicinal Plant

Morinda morindoides (Rubiaceae) is an indigenous tree of West Africa. This tree is used in Côte d’Ivoire against malaria. In this study, we investigated the in vitro antiplasmodial and antifungal activity of the leaves of M morindoides. M morindoides leaves were collected, air dried and made into a fine powder. Aqueous extracts (Aqe), ethanol (Eeth), ethyl acetate (EAc) and acetate-water (EAc-H2O) were performed. EAch extract was tested on Plasmodium falciparum and Aspergillus fumigatus. IC50 values of different extracts is ranked in the following order: 6.1 (EAc) <17.8 (Eeth) <21.5 (Aqe) <46.5 (EAc-H2O) for P. falciparum and 1.3 (EAc) <6.1 (Eeth) <12.47 (Aqe) < more than 300 (EAc-H2O) for A. fumigatus, the ethyl acetate extract being the most active against both patogens. These results show that M morindoides leaves display significant antiplasmodial and antifungal activity, which justifies its use in traditional medicine against malaria and mycoses.