In vivo antimalarial activities of Enantia polycarpa stem bark against Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevanceEnantia polycarpa (PC) Engl. Et Diels (Annonaceae) is used in traditional medicine as an antimalarial remedy in Southern Nigeria. Aim of the studyThe antimalarial activities of ethanolic stem bark extracts of Enantia polycarpa was studied in vivo, in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei. Materials and methodsThe ethanolic stem bark extract of Enantia polycarpa was administered at doses ranging from 200 to 600mg/kg/day to Plasmodium berghei infected mice in both early and established models of antiplasmodial studies. ResultsThe extract of Enantia polycarpa exhibited promising antimalarial activity against both early and established infections. At a dose of 600mg/kg the extract achieved a 75.8% and 72% chemosuppression of parasitaemia in the study of acute and established infections, respectively. The extract also prolonged mean survival time of Plasmodium berghei infected mice during the study of established infection. The mean survival time of mice administered Enantia polycarpa extract at 600mg/kg/day (27 days) was significantly longer than infected/untreated control (12 days). For the acute toxicity study the extract had an intraperitoneal LD50 of 186mg/kg but caused no mortality when administered orally at doses as high as 2,000 and 4,000mg/kg. ConclusionsCollectively, the results indicate that Enantia polycarpa is safe when administered orally and possesses promising antimalarial activity, thus supporting its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria.