Background & objectives: In Colombian Amazonia, Uitoto indigenous people use a preparation of Curarea toxicofera (Menispermaceae) to prevent and treat malaria. To open the way for the production of a standardized herbal remedy, we compared the activity of the traditional preparation with laboratory preparations.
Methods: People were interviewed on their mode of use and preparation of what is considered the best remedy against fevers in this area. The herbal remedy was prepared according to the healer’s recommendations. The plant was also submitted to continuous distillation and percolation extraction. The preparations were then tested against Plasmodium falciparum, in vitro. Traditional preparation and extract obtained by percolation were tested on Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Chemical profiles were also explored by thin-layer chromatography.
Results: Yields of extraction were around 7% in the preparations (percolation was the most efficient). The phytochemical profile showed a mix of steroids, flavonoids and alkaloids qualitatively similar in all preparations. In vitro, the extracts showed inhibitory concentration 50 <10μg/mL: the traditional preparation was almost three times less active than laboratory preparations. In vivo, percolation was also more active than traditional preparation, inhibiting 78% of the parasite growth at 400mg/kg/day by oral route.
Interpretation & conclusion: Pharmacological activities suggest that both the original remedy (prepared according to traditional pharmacopeia) and the extracts obtained by percolation extraction exhibit relevant antiparasitic activity. C. toxicofera should therefore be considered for the elaboration of an improved traditional medicine by implementing toxicological studies and carefully following quality control guidelines for its preparation.

中文翻译：

---

哥伦比亚传统 Uitoto 疗法与实验室制剂的抗疟活性比较

背景与目的：在哥伦比亚亚马逊河流域，Uitoto 土著人民使用一种毒蕈草（防霉科）制剂来预防和治疗疟疾。为了为标准化草药的生产开辟道路，我们比较了传统制剂与实验室制剂的活性。
方法：人们就他们的使用方式和准备什么被认为是该地区发烧的最佳药物进行了采访。草药是根据治疗师的建议准备的。该工厂还进行了连续蒸馏和渗滤萃取。然后在体外对这些制剂对恶性疟原虫进行了测试. 通过渗透获得的传统制剂和提取物在伯氏疟原虫感染的小鼠上进行了测试。还通过薄层色谱研究了化学特征。
结果：制剂中的提取率约为 7%（渗透是最有效的）。植物化学特征显示所有制剂中类固醇、类黄酮和生物碱的混合物在性质上相似。在体外，提取物的抑制浓度为 50 <10μg/mL：传统制剂的活性几乎是实验室制剂的三倍。在体内，渗透也比传统制剂更活跃，通过口服途径以 400mg/kg/天抑制 78% 的寄生虫生长。
解读与结论：药理活性表明，原始药物（根据传统药典制备）和通过渗透提取获得的提取物均表现出相关的抗寄生虫活性。因此，应考虑通过实施毒理学研究并仔细遵循制备过程中的质量控制指南来制定改进的传统药物C.toxicofera。