Antiplasmodial Activity of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Eucalyptus citriodora in Swiss Albino Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei NK 65

Abstract

Malaria is a life-threatening disease and emergence of malaria parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs, has necessitated the need for discovery and development of an alternative to malaria medicine. This study assessed the ethanolic leaf extract of Eucalyptus citriodora for the presence of bioactive components qualitatively and efficacy of the extract against the malaria parasite. Standard methods were used to determine the bioactive components of the leaf extract. Twenty (20) albino mice of body weight between 18-25 g were randomised into 5 groups of four mice each for acute toxicity test, while twenty-four (24) mice were randomised into six groups of four mice each (group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) for antiplasmodial activity. All the groups were infected with P. berghei, except group 3 (normal control). Group 4, 5 and 6 were treated with 0.2 mL of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight of extract respectively. Group 2 (positive control) were treated with 0.2 mL of 5 mg/kg body weight of chloroquine. Group 1 (negative control) were administered with 0.2 mL of normal saline, while group 3 (normal control) were administered with 0.2 mL of normal saline for four consecutive days. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinone, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides and the extract was found safe and nontoxic. The antiplasmodial investigation revealed a decrease in percentage parasitaemia level in mice of group 4, 5 and 6 (extract treated group) compared with mice of group 1 (infected and not treated). The parasitaemia reduction was higher in group 6 (800 mg/kg). This significant decrease (P<0.05) in percentage parasitaemia level in the study was dose and time-dependent. The study revealed the potency of E. citriodora leaf extract as a future herbal candidate for the treatment of human malaria infection.

Antiplasmodial Activity of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf in Swiss Albino Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei NK 65

“…This agrees with the work of Kiliobas, [17], who reported dose dependent antimalarial activities against P. berghei in fractions of C. citratus. The decreased percentage parasitaemia in ethanolic treated mice compared to negative control could be attached to the findings of Muhammed et al, [21], that saponins and tannins in extracts could inhibit haem polymerisation and the unpolymerised haem is very toxic for intraerythrocytic Plasmodia. Comparatively, the parasiteamia load reductions exhibited by ethanolic treated group at difference concentrations for all days were not as effective as chloroquine (positive control).…”

PHYTO CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND In vitro ANTIPLASMODIAL POTENTIAL OF STEM BARK AND LEAF EXTRACTS OF Ficus gnaphalocarpa AND Ipomea fistulos USED IN YAURI AND ARGUNGU EMIRATES, KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA

“…Malaria in humans is caused by P. Malariae, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. falciparum (Shija et al, 2020). Malaria caused by P. falciparum and P. vivax represent the majority of malaria health burden worldwide with estimated incidences of 207 million and 8.5 million cases respectively in 2018 (WHO 2018, Muhammed et al, 2018. P. falciparum is the most dominant and pathogenic species responsible for almost all mortality caused by malaria in tropical and sub-tropical countries (Ogundolie et al, 2017).…”

“…P. falciparum is the most dominant and pathogenic species responsible for almost all mortality caused by malaria in tropical and sub-tropical countries (Ogundolie et al, 2017). P. berghei is a practical model organism in the laboratory for the study of human malaria aimed at developing a new management measure for the control and prevention of malaria (Muhammed et al, 2018;Ogundolie et al, 2017). The Parasites, P. berghei, is transmitted to rodents by the bites of an infected mosquito called Anopheles dureni (Muhammed et al, 2018).…”

“…P. berghei is a practical model organism in the laboratory for the study of human malaria aimed at developing a new management measure for the control and prevention of malaria (Muhammed et al, 2018;Ogundolie et al, 2017). The Parasites, P. berghei, is transmitted to rodents by the bites of an infected mosquito called Anopheles dureni (Muhammed et al, 2018). Malaria has contributed to major socioeconomic problems, consequence of which is global instability and poverty (CDC, 2016).…”

“…Various therapies have been developed for the treatment of malaria, some of which include, Chloroquine, Mefloquine, Quinine, Primaquine, Artemisinin and its derivatives like artesunate, artemeter and arteether (Adebayo and Kretlli, 2011). However, the current efforts to reduce the global burden of malaria are threatened by the rapid emergence and spread of P. falciparum resistance to artemisinin combination therapies, ACTs including artemisinin derivatives and their partner drugs (Muhammed et al, 2018;WHO, 2017). The possible and promising source of malaria treatment appears in the use of traditional herbal medicine which has been the most available, affordable and cheap sources of malaria treatment for most communities (Muhammed et al, 2018;Hosseinzadeh et al, 2015).…”