Artemisia annua is an asiatic plant with curative properties against malaria,
containing artemisinin. This active compound, and its derivatives are the last few
antimalarial drugs that remain effective against multidrug resistant strains of
Plasmodium falciparum. But they are very expensive and not accessible to poor
African countries.
The aim of this study is to obtain effective pharmaceutical dosage forms against
malaria, starting from extracts of Artemisia annua cultivated in Benin.Several extraction methods were compared based on the extraction yield of
artemisinin and antiplasmodial activity tests. Artemisinin was quantified in each
extract by an HPLC method with derivatization of artemisinin in Q260. The extraction
yield of artemisinin was the highest by using Soxhlet extraction with petroleum ether
40-60 (0,262%). The infusion method led to the weakest extraction yield (0,194%).
Intermediate results were obtained for maceration in oil ether (40-60) process
(0,199%) and in the mixture water/ ethanol (50/50) (0,227%). The antiplasmodial
tests in vitro were carried out by the method of Delhaes et al and revealed that
maceration in water/ethanol would be most effective with a IC50 equal to 2,849 and
very near to the results of the artemisinin as a reference (IC50 = 2,731). The hydroalcoholic
extract was evaporated in order to obtain a dry powder for the preparation
of two oral drug dosage forms (hard gelatin capsules and oral suspension). These
two formulations were tested for content uniformity, stability, and microbiological
properties and all the tests were found to be conform to the Pharmacopeias
recommendations.
The use of crude extracts of the plant can give cheaper and efficient medicines
containing artemisinin and also other compounds of the plant with antipyretic
properties and which can potentiate artemisinin antimalarial activity.

Herbal medicinal products, Pharmaceutical dosage forms, drugs made with plants.