Abstract
Background: Anti-plasmodial activities of the methanol stem bark extracts of Nauclea latifolia, and Terminalia glaucescens were investigated in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Methods: A total of 24 Plasmodium berghei infected (P. berghei infected) mice were divided into 8 groups of 3 each. Groups A-F were given 100, 300 or 500 mg/kg of either extracts. Groups G and H received 2 mL normal saline (negative control) and 5 mg/kg of chloroquine (positive control), respectively. The drugs and extracts were administered orally once daily for five days. Results: Alkaloids and flavonoids were the most and abundant metabolites in the extracts, respectively. The extract of Nauclea latifolia (N. latifolia) and Terminalia glaucescens (T. glauscecens) had Median Lethal Dose LD50 of >5000 mg/kg and 3808 mg/kg, respectively. In vivo anti-plasmodial studies revealed that the highest suppression (66.79% and 65.37%) and mean survival days (27.67±1.45 and 30.33±0.33) were recorded for the groups treated with 500 mg/kg N. latifolia or T. glaucescens, respectively. The infected but untreated groups survived only for 9.33±0.88 days while chloroquine treated groups lived for 31.33±0.88 days. The body weight and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) of rats treated with 500 mg/kg. N. latifolia or T. glaucescens significantly increased (P<0.05) compared to those in the infected but untreated groups. There was a significant loss (P<0.05) in body weight and PCV of the mice treated with 100 mg/kg of T. glaucescens compared to those in other treated groups. Conclusion: The extracts exhibited anti-plasmodial activities in mice, therefore, they may be considered potential candidates for new anti-malarial agents.
Highlights
Malaria is one of the deadly infectious diseases globally and remains one of the oldest life-threatening parasitic diseases in Africa, despite the control programs [1]
Phenols and saponins were present at high concentration in T. glaucescens while flavonoids were found at high concentration in N. latifolia
Effect of the extracts on packed cell volume: The results indicated that the Packed Cell Volume (PCV) for all of the treatments were not significantly different before the infection and after the treatment (Figures 5 & 6)
Summary
Malaria is one of the deadly infectious diseases globally and remains one of the oldest life-threatening parasitic diseases in Africa, despite the control programs [1]. It is estimated that about 80% of rural populations still depend on herbal medicine and validations of these claims in treating malaria have yielded significant benefits [3]. The use of plants in traditional medicine in the treatment of various diseases is known since the beginning of human history [4]. Traditional folk medicine derived from plants has always guided researchers to search for novel drugs aimed at improving the health of humans and animals. The active ingredients extracted from these plants have led to the development of several lifesaving drugs, which are being used today in various communities globally [1]. Anti-plasmodial activities of the methanol stem bark extracts of Nauclea latifolia, and Terminalia glaucescens were investigated in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei
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