Determination of Antimalarial Property, Chemical Constituents and Toxicity Level of Alstonia Boonei Aqueous Stem Bark Extract in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Mice

Abstract

This study, which is part of a project on the antimalarial potential of different extracts of Alstonia boonei plant parts, was carried out to determine the antimalarial property, chemical constituents and toxicity level of Alstonia boonei aqueous stem bark extract in white albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. The extract exhibited substantial dose dependent antimalarial property as shown by the suppressive effect (41.48%, 52.67% and 69.82% for 100, 200 and 400 mgkg -1 body weights) prophylactic effect (48.69%, 54.37% and 62.63% for 100, 200 and 400 mgkg -1 body weights) and curative effect (52.63%, 63.55% and 68.82% for 100, 200 and 400 mgkg -1 body weights) in white albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. The results of the antimalarial tests were significantly different compared to the negative control at P < 0.05. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed that the plant contains chemical constituents including tannins, flavonoids, steroids, phenols, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and terpenoids. The toxicity test indicated that the extract is safe up to the lethal dose of 5000 mg/body weight. From the results, the extract possesses important chemical constituents which are safe and exhibit good antimalarial property. This calls for further study of the extract as a potential antimalarial drug target.