Abstract

Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium species, remains a major global health burden, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The increasing resistance of parasites to conventional antimalarial drugs highlights the urgent need for alternative therapeutic agents derived from natural sources. Lawsonia inermis (Henna) has been traditionally used in herbal medicine and is known for its diverse biological properties, including antimicrobial and antiparasitic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antiplasmodial potential of L. inermis leaf extract against human malaria parasites. Fresh blood samples from malaria-infected patients were cultured and treated with different concentrations of the extract. Parasite development was monitored microscopically to assess the inhibitory effects. The results revealed a complete inhibition of parasite growth in all Henna-treated samples, whereas control cultures showed normal maturation of schizonts and gametocytes. These findings indicate that Lawsonia inermis possesses potent antimalarial activity, likely through interference with parasite nuclear division and support its further exploration as a promising source of plant-based antimalarial compounds.

Keywords: Lawsonia inermis; Henna; Antiplasmodial activity; Plasmodium species; In vitro study