Clinico-biochemical and histopathological alterations in sub-chronically exposed mice (Mus Musculus) to polyherbal antimalarials

Abstract

Introduction: Concerns have been raised in the safety of antimalarial remedies for them to be acceptable for use. The present study is an assessment of safety profiles of two plant-based antimalarial cocktail treatments, namely: Cocktail treatment A (CtA) and Cocktail treatment B (CtB). Materials and methods: The treatments have been prepared from a defined mixture of hot water extracts of 6 plant parts, based on how they are used locally as antimalarials. CtA comprised Enantia chlorantha Oliv., Cymbopogon citratus Stapf, Curcuma longa L., while CtB comprised Enantia chlorantha Oliv., Carica papaya L., Alstonia boonei De Wild and Mangifera indica L. Safety assessments were done as post antimalarial exposures of CtA, CtB administered in mice at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg dose levels against Plasmoduim berghei berghei. Haematological parameters, biochemical parameters, and histopathological changes of vital organs were equally evaluated for mice sacrificed immediately after exposures on day 8 (D8) (suppressive), day 9 (D9) (curative), day 12 (D12) (prophylactic), day 6 (D6) (treated/unparasitized). These results of acute effects of the treatments were compared with corresponding curative, suppressive, prophylactic, treated/unparasitized groups of treated mice which were sacrificed on day 25 (D25) for sub-chronic effects of the cocktails aganist P. berghei infected mice. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 23.0. (p<0.05). Results: The treatments increased concentrations of packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cells and white blood cells, liver enzymes and oxidative stress biomarkers. However, these concentrations returned to normal levels by day 25 (D25). Heart and spleen morphology was normal in all the treatments. But pathological damages were observed in the kidney, liver and brain, indicating multi-organ toxicities. The damages were mostly observed in groups administered 400 and 800 mg/kg doses. Conclusions: Overall, findings demonstrated some toxicities associated with CtA and CtB antimalarials that could be transient, as demonstrated in some groups of the experimental mice where haematological and some biochemical parameters were returning to normal levels within 25 days post-treatment. Cautious administrations of these

Molecular simulation of bioactives from Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) against Plasmodium falciparum - glutathione-Stransferase

“…Malaria is a common and life-threatening disease in the tropics, sub-tropic, and outside sub-Saharan African regions of the globe (Afolabi et al, 2021;WHO, 2020). It is caused by the infection of Plasmodium falciparum, a protozoan, among other species that are transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquitoes (Afolabi and Oyewole, 2020; Omagha et al, 2023). Malaria is a major public health problem that poses serious socioeconomic challenges (Abamecha et al, 2020;WHO, 2020).…”