Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities and to evaluate the selectivity indices of acetone, ethanol and aqueous extracts of Peronema canescensleaves. Methods: Antiplasmodial activity was measured in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum strains D10 and FCR3 by 72 h incubation at 37 °C in a candle jar. Parasitaemia was calculated by counting the parasite numbers in thin smears. In vitrocytotoxicity was assayed in Vero cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl )-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and reading the absorbency at 595 nm with an ELISA reader. The assessed parameters included: 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of antiplasmodial activity, IC50Results: The IC of cytotoxic activity and the selectivity index of the Peronema canescens leaf extract.50 values for the acetone, ethanol and aqueous extracts were 26.33±1.65, 37.96±8.17 and 12.26±1.05 μg/ml, respectively, against the Plasmodium falciparum D10 strain and51.14±8.65, 70.22±14.13 and 34.85±6.04 μg/ml, respectively, against the FCR3 strain. For Vero cells, the IC50Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Peronema canescens leaves had the highest in vitro antiplasmodial activity and the best selectivity index.values for the acetone, ethanol and aqueous extracts were 23.37±5.63, 629.46±24.85 and 634.00±144.82 μg/ml, respectively. The selectivity indices of these extracts were 0.89, 16.46 and 51.70, respectively, for the D10 strain and 0.46, 8.90 and 18.00, respectively, for the FCR3 strain.