Aim: This study was carried out to identify the phytochemical composition of Maesobotrya barteri, and effect on infra-red induced pain in mice. Methodology: Twenty albino mice were selected and randomly placed in 5 groups of 4 animals each. Pain was induced by infra-red heat. Group 1 was treated with distilled water, Group 2 received 100 mg/kg bwt of aspirin. Extract doses of 500 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg bw were given to groups 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The time taken for the animals to flick their tail off the I.R window was noted in seconds and taken as the reaction time. Results: The plant contains alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, carbohydrates, cardenolides and saponins. Flavonoids were the most abundant. The plant extract increased the reaction time of the mice to radiant heat induced pain. All doses of the plant extract except the 800 mg/kg bwt dose showed the highest elevation of pain threshold at the 60 mins interval. The concentration of 1000 mg/kg body weight showed the highest elevation. Percentage inhibition was calculated as 27.5%, 20.6% and 44.4% for the three doses of the extract respectively. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the reaction time for the standard drug treated group and the extract treated Original Research Article

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the antimalarial activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Maesobotrya barteri, and effects on some hematological and biochemical parameters. Methodology: Twenty eight albino mice were selected and twenty four of these were injected intraperitoneally with 1×10 6 Plasmodium berghei (NK65 strain) parasitized red blood cells in 0.5 ml of distilled water on the first day. After 72 hours, the animals were placed in seven groups having four animals each. Group 1 was uninoculated and untreated. Group 2 (inoculated and untreated) served as negative control. Group 3 was treated with 25 mg/kg bwt chloroquine and served as the positive control. Group 4 was treated with 4 mg/kg body weight of artesunate. 500 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the extract were administered to groups 5, 6 and 7 respectively for four (4) days. On the fifth day post administration, the animals were anesthesized and blood obtained by cardiac puncture for hematological and biochemical investigation. The liver from the mice were harvested after sacrifice on the fifth day and subjected to histological Original Research Article