Abstract
BackgroundIn Ethiopia, the leaves of Syzygium guineense have been found useful for the prevention and cure of malaria, and demonstrated antiplasmodial activity in vitro. Nevertheless, no scientific study has been conducted to confirm its antimalarial activity in vivo. Therefore, the objective of the study was to evaluate the antimalarial effect of Syzygium guineense leaf extract in mice.MethodsInoculation of the study mice was carried out by using the malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei. The plant extract was prepared at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg. Chloroquine and distilled water was administered to the positive and negative control groups respectively. Parameters like parasitaemia, survival time and body weight were determined following standard tests (4-day suppressive, Rane’s and repository tests).ResultsSyzygium guineense crude leaf extract displayed considerable (p < 0.05) parasite suppression at doses of 600 and 400 mg/kg in a 4-day suppressive test with chemosuppressive value of 59.39 and 49.09% respectively. S. guineense crude leaf extract also showed dose-dependent schizontocidal activity in both the repository and curative tests. The extract also prevented body weight loss and prolonged survival date of mice significantly (P < 0.05) at the highest dose employed in the study. Qualitative chemical assay for S. guineense methanolic leaf extract revealed that the plant is endowed with different plant secondary metabolites exemplified by terpenoids, alkaloids, triterpenes, flavonoids, anthraquinones, tannins, glycosides, saponins and phenols.ConclusionSyzygium guineense leaf extract possess antimalarial activity in mice. The test substance was found to be safe with no observable signs of toxicity in the study mice. The results of the present work confirmed the in vitro antiplasmodial finding and traditional claims in vivo in mice. Therefore, Syzygium guineense could be regarded as a potential source to develop safe, effective and affordable antimalarial agent.
Highlights
In Ethiopia, the leaves of Syzygium guineense have been found useful for the prevention and cure of malaria, and demonstrated antiplasmodial activity in vitro
Regardless of intensive efforts to get rid of malaria, the infection remains to be among the top health problems in Ethiopia [1]
S. guineense as a potential medicinal plant was selected depending on the evidence provided by herbalists in Northwest Ethiopia
Summary
In Ethiopia, the leaves of Syzygium guineense have been found useful for the prevention and cure of malaria, and demonstrated antiplasmodial activity in vitro. Though widespread in tropical Africa, the healthcare coverage of the continent in general and the rural areas in particular is still inadequate. People dwelling in this area have time tested experiences regarding medicinal plants. People in the countryside, wholly or partially, use medicinal plants for prevention as well as cure of various disease conditions. The disease causes not less than 60,000 deaths every year and accounts for about 17% of outpatient visits to health organizations, 8% of admissions and 29%. P. falciparum malaria parasite has recently developed resistance to almost all of the currently available medications used to treat the infection [6,7,8]
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