AbstractEthanolic leaf extracts ofFicus pyrifolia(Moraceae) andRhus(=Baronia)taratana(Anacardiaccae), said to possess antimalarial effects in traditional herbal medicines, were tested againstPlasmodium falciparum in vitrousing an isotropic semi‐microtest andin vivoin the 4 day suppressive test inPlasmodium bergheiinfected mice. Although thein vitrotest showed moderate or low activity (IC50= 18 μg/mL and 80 μg/mL, respectively), thein vivobioassays demonstrated significant activity with 67%, 52% and 48% suppression of parasitaemia with 80, 320, 2.5 mg/kg day−1ofFicus pyrifolia, Rhus taratanaand chloroquine, respectively. The two plant extracts showed low cytotox