Background: The increasing problem of drug resistance to most of the available antimalarial therapies is a recurring issue. To overcome this issue, new antiplasmodial drugs are needed. Many plants have been use for treatment of malaria by traditional healer in India. The purpose of this research was to evaluate seven medicinal plants used against malaria by indigenous people in India, validate their use and identify the plant with the best antiplasmodial properties. Methods: Methanol, hydro

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... holic (60:40) and aqueous extracts from seven ethnomedicinal plants were screened on chloroquine-sensitive (MRC-2) and chloroquine-resistant (RKL-9) strain of Plasmodium falciparum by schizont maturation inhibition assay and inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) activity. Results: Out of 21 extracts, hydro alcohol extract of B. variegate showed the highest inhibition of schizont maturation with 81.77±0.96% against MRC-2 and 78.08±3.76% against RKL-9 strain. In PfLDH inhibition assay, Methanol and hydro alcohol extract of B. variegate showed moderate antiplasmodial activity with IC50 24.65 μg/mL and 39.42 μg/mL, respectively against MRC-2 strain. Methanol extract of B. variegate also exhibited moderate activity with IC50 28.71 μg/ml against RKL-9 strain. Conclusion: The present study provided scientific evidence for indigenous Indian medicinal plants as a source of antiplasmodial agents. This finding supports the continued exploration of traditional medicines in the search for new antimalarial agents. The compounds responsible for the observed antiplasmodial effects in B. variegate are under investigation.