Comparing Black Trepang and Curryfish Extract's Antimalarial Activity Using In Vitro Screening

Background: Malaria resistance to artemisinin combination therapy has prompted researchers to explore anti-plasmodium materials. One of the marine biotas thought to have the potential to inhibit the development of malaria parasites (Plasmodium sp) are black trepang and curryfish. These two marine biotas consist of two varieties of sea cucumbers with various therapeutic benefits. However, their antimalarial effects have not been studied. Objective: Two marine biotas, black trepang and curryfish extract, were analyzed using in vitro screening to determine their antimalarial activity. Methods: The experiment was done through in vitro screening technique (culture medium containing P. falciparum). P1 was a negative control; P2 was a positive control/using chloroquine as an antimalarial; P3 was a group that received black trepang extract) and P4 was a group that received curryfish extract. Measurements of parasitemia levels, growth percentage, inhibition rate, and IC50 were performed to determine the antimalarial activity. Results: The antimalarial results suggest that increasing the dose of marine biota extract reduces the parasite development rate and increases the inhibition rate. In line with IC50 analysis, both marine biotas have high antimalarial activity. Curryfish extract has a lower IC50 value than black trepang extract. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that black trepang and curry fish have high antimalarial activity.