Abstract
The resistance of malaria parasites to the current antimalarial drugs has led to the search for novel effective drugs. Betula alnoides has been traditionally used for the treatment of malaria, but the scientific evidence to substantiate this claim is still lacking. Therefore, the present study aimed at evaluating the antimalarial activity and toxicity of an aqueous stem extract of B. alnoides in a mouse model. The in vivo antimalarial activity of an aqueous stem extract of B. alnoides was determined by a 4-day suppressive test in mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei ANKA. The B. alnoides extract was administered orally at different doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight. The levels of parasitaemia, survival time, body weight change, and food and water consumption of the mice were determined. The acute toxicity of the extract was assessed in the mice for 14 days after the administration of a single oral dose of 5000 mg/kg. An aqueous stem extract of B. alnoides exhibited a significant dose-dependent reduction of parasitaemia in P. berghei-infected mice at all dose levels compared to the reduction in the negative control. Extract doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight suppressed the levels of parasitaemia by 46.90, 58.39, and 71.26%, respectively. The extract also significantly prolonged the survival times of the P. berghei-infected mice compared to the survival times of the negative control mice. In addition, at all dose levels, the extract prevented body weight loss in P. berghei-infected mice. For the acute toxicity, there were no significant alterations in the biochemical parameters and in the histopathology. In conclusion, the aqueous stem extract of B. alnoides possesses antimalarial properties. A single oral dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight had no significant toxic effects on the function and structure of the kidneys and liver. These results support its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria.
Highlights
Malaria is a major parasitic disease that occurs in tropical and subtropical regions and is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the Plasmodium genus [1]
Four-Day Suppressive Effect. e aqueous stem extract of B. alnoides decreased the level of parasitaemia and significantly suppressed the parasites in P. berghei-infected mice in a dose-dependent manner compared to the suppressive effects in the negative control mice
To determine the in vivo antimalarial activity, the 4-day suppressive model has been widely used and accepted as a viable model to evaluate the effects of candidate agents on early malaria infections [17, 18]. e current study shows that the stem extract of B. alnoides significantly decreased the level of parasitaemia in P. berghei-infected mice and extract dose of 600 mg/kg body weight prolonged the survival time of the mice up to 22.5 days. ese findings are in agreement with a previous study that demonstrated the parasitaemia suppression of more than 30% and prolonged survival time of the treated mice compared with those of the negative control group; these parameters are often considered to be signs of effective treatment in standard screening tests [18]
Summary
Malaria is a major parasitic disease that occurs in tropical and subtropical regions and is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the Plasmodium genus [1]. Among the five species of human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the most severe type of human malaria and has developed resistance to the existing antimalarial drugs [2]. E emergence and rapidly developing multidrug-resistant strains of Plasmodium, P. falciparum, represent a critical problem for prophylaxis and treatment. Erapeutics based on artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) are currently being recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most effective medicine for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria as well as for chloroquine-resistant P. vivax malaria [3]. Quinine and artemisinin were the main antimalarial drugs that have been used successfully against resistant malaria parasites [5, 6]. One important approach in antimalarial drug discovery and development is Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine the investigation of potential antimalarial candidates from natural sources
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
