Hepato-protective and haematological assessment of Morinda lucida ethanolic leaf extract on Plasmodium berghei parasitized mice

Abstract

Development of antimalarial drugs from medicinal plants continues to be a very appealing option. Morinda lucida, commonly known as ‘Oruwo’ or ‘Erewo’ by the Yoruba people of South Western Nigeria, is used in the treatment of malaria, fever, amongst other ailments. Therapeutic efficacy of the ethanolic leaf extract was evaluated in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Percentage suppression of parasitaemia for the ethanolic leaf extract was 54.68, 60.84, 84.89 and 96% for doses of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg, and 400mg/kg body weight of the extract and 5 mg/kg Leonart DS respectively. Effective dose which depends on the inhibition of parasitaemia was also observed in the curative test. The hepatoprotective activity of the ethanolic leaf extract was determined through liver enzyme tests (AST, ALT, and ALP) for 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract. Morinda lucida ethanolic leaf extract possesses no lethality in mice at 400mg/kg body weight. It is concluded that the ethanolic leaf extract of Morinda lucida is potentially useful as antimalarial drug.