In vivo antimalarial activity of crude fruit extract of Capsicum frutescens var. minima (Solanaceae) against Plasmodium berghei infected mice

Abstract

Background: The alarming spread of drug resistance to current antimalarial agents is threatening malaria controlling efforts. This, consequently, urged the scientific community to discover novel antimalarial drugs. Successful and most potent antimalarial drugs were obtained from medicinal plants. Capsicum frutescens is claimed to possess an antiplasmodial activity in Ethiopian and Ugandan folkloric medicine. However, there is lack of pharmacological evidence for its antiplasmodial activity. This study, hence, was aimed at evaluating the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of C. frutescens in mice model. Methods: The 4-day suppressive test was employed to ascertain the claimed antiplasmodial effect of the plant. Following inoculation with P. berghei , mice in treatment groups were provided with three dose levels (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of the extract. Whereas, 2% Tween80 and chloroquine served as negative and positive control, respectively. Weight, temperature, packed cell volume, parasitemia and survival time were then monitored.Results: The oral acute toxicity study revealed that the crude extract caused no mortality and revealed no overt sign of toxicity. In 4-day suppressive test, all dose levels of the extract was found to exhibit a significant (p<0.05) inhibition of parasitemia compared to negative control. Maximum parasite suppression (93.28%) was exerted by the highest dose (400mg/kg/day) of extract. In addition, the extract significantly (p<0.05) prolonged survival time and prevented body weight loss, reduction in temperature and anemia compared to vehicle treated group.Conclusion: This investigation found a strong evidence that fruit extract of C. frutescens is endowed with a promising antiplasmodial activity. Hence, the plant could serve as a potential source of newer antimalarial agent.