Ethanol leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis ameliorates hepatorenal toxicity of Plasmodium berghi-berghi infected mice treated with Hippocratea africana root bark extract

Abstract

The effect of ethanol leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis on hepatorenal function of Plasmodium berghiberghi infected mice treated with root bark extract of Hippocratea africana was evaluated. Twenty-One (21) male mice weighing between 27 – 33 g used for the study were divided into seven groups. Group 1 served as normal control while Groups 2 – 7 were parasitized with Plasmodium berghi-berghi and Group 2 was the test control group (parasitized without treatment). Group 3 was administered 8 mg/kg bw of artemether-lumefantrine for 3 days. Group 4 and 5 received daily, 200 mg/kg bw and 300 mg/kg bw of Hippocratea africana and Jatropha tanjorensis respectively for 4 days. Group 6 received 8mg/kg bw of artemether-lumefantrine for 3 days followed with 300 mg/kg bw of Jatropha tanjorensis for 4 days. Group 7 was treated with 200 mg/kg bw of Hippocratea africana for 4 days followed by 300 mg/kg bw of Jatropha tanjorensis for 4 days. The concentration of urea, creatinine and the activities of the liver enzymes were observed to increase significantly following induction of malaria when compared to normal control. Treatment with artemether-lumefantrine and root bark extract of Hippocratea africana showed drug induced hepatorenal toxicity which was ameliorated with the administration of ethanol leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis. The study showed that Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract had hepatorenal protective function against Plasmodium berghi-berghi infection and malaria treatment induced toxicity, that may be due to its rich phytochemicals with antioxidant activity.