Anti-Toxoplasma gondii RH strain activity of herbal extracts used in traditional medicine

Methanolic extracts of 15 traditional medicines used to treat Toxoplasma gondii were tested in vitro for their anti-T. gondii activity and cytotoxicity. The median effective concentration (EC(50)) values for the herbal extracts ranged from 0.11 mg/mL to 2.28 mg/mL. Significant anti-T. gondii RH strain activity was observed with Zingiber officinale extracts (EC(50) = 0.18 mg/mL), which displayed a highly selective toxicity (selectivity = 10.1). Sophora flavescens Aiton extracts also showed high anti-T. gondii activity (EC(50) = 0.20 mg/mL) and a high selective toxicity (4.6). This indicates that Z. officinale and S. flavescens Aiton extracts may be sources of new anti-T. gondii compounds. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.