Antiplasmodial Activity of Phyllanthus amarus and Associated Impact on Surrogate Markers of Insulin Sensitivity and Resistance Indices

Abstract

ABSTRACT The antimalarial activity of different parts (leaf, fruit, stem, and root) of Phyllanthus amarus and their associated impact on surrogate markers of insulin sensitivity in experimental mice, having ascertained their toxicity (LD50) index were documented. Results showed that the plant parts were nontoxic (LD50 > 5,000 mg kg−1) and were antimalarial in a dose-dependent manner, with the ethanol leaf extract having the highest parasite suppression followed by the fruit, root, and stem extracts. However, the root extract had the most profound impact on insulin sensitivity compared to other parts, although all showed improvement, with insulin sensitivity/resistance indices, with QUICKI vs. HOMA-IR showing a strong positive correlation (r = 0.993), but QUICKI vs. HOMA-IR and HOMA-IR vs. 1/HOMA = IR having strong negative correlation (r = −0.963 and −0.927, respectively). So, QUICKI and 1/HOMA-IR are surrogate indices of insulin sensitivity and HOMA-IR and TyG index, insulin resistance surrogate markers.