Antiplasmodial activity of the ethanolic root bark extract of Icacina senegalensis in mice infected by Plasmodium berghei.

Abstract

The root of Icacina senegalensis is used for the treatment of malaria and related conditions in southeastern Nigeria. To establish its efficacy, the ethanolic root bark extract was investigated as antiplasmodial agent against Plasmodium berghei in mice. A 4-day suppressive test and the curative effect against established infection models of antiplasmodial studies were used. The root bark extract of I. senegalensis (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) exhibited a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent activity against the parasite based on suppressive and curative study. The antimalarial effect of I. senegalensis is compared with that of chloroquine (10 mg/kg), the standard drug. The ethanolic root bark extract also prolonged the survival time of infected mice. The results showed that the root bark extract possesses a potential antiplasmodial activity, which can be exploited for the possible development of new antimalarial agent.