In vivo antiplasmodial and toxicological effect of Maytenus senegalensis traditionally used in the treatment of malaria in Tanzania.

Hamisi M Malebo,Calister P Imeda,Vitus A Nyigo,Bertha Mammuya,Andrew Y Kitua,Paulo P Mhame,Kesheni P Senkoro,Nteghenjwa A Kitufe,Victor Wiketye,John W Ogondiek,Julius J Massaga,Richard Sunguruma,Mwelecele N Malecela,Shaaban J Katani,Susan F Rumisha

doi:10.1186/s12936-014-0525-y

Abstract

BackgroundIn Tanzania and elsewhere, medicinal plants, including Maytenus senegalensis, are still widely used in the treatment of malaria and other ailments. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vivo antiplasmodial and toxic effects in mice.MethodsOral antiplasmodial and acute toxicity of the ethanolic root extract of M. senegalensis was evaluated in mice. The Peters 4-day in vivo antiplasmodial effect against early rodent malaria infection in chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei NK 65 strain in mice.ResultsThe M. senegalensis extract was found non-toxic and the oral median lethal dose in mice was determined to be greater than 1,600 mg/kg body weight. The findings revealed a significant (P = 0.001) daily increase in the level of parasitaemia in the parasitized untreated groups and a significant (P < 0.001) dose dependent decrease in parasitaemia in the parasitized groups treated with varying doses ranging from 25 to 100 mg/kg body weight of M. senegalensis extract and the standard drug sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine at 25/1.25 mg/kg body weight. Overall, the dose dependent parasitaemia suppression effects were in the order of: 25/1.25 mg/kg body weight of sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine > 100 mg/kg > 75 mg/kg > 50 mg/kg > 25 mg/kg body weight of M. senegalensis extract.ConclusionThe implications of these findings is that M. senegalensis ethanolic root bark extract possess potent antiplasmodial effect and may, therefore, serve as potential sources of safe, effective and affordable anti-malarial drugs. The displayed high in vivo antiplasmodial activity and lack of toxic effect render M. senegalensis a candidate for the bioassay-guided isolation of compounds which could develop into new lead structures and candidates for drug development programmes against human malaria.

Highlights

In Tanzania and elsewhere, medicinal plants, including Maytenus senegalensis, are still widely used in the treatment of malaria and other ailments
In vivo anti-plasmodial activity The results of the in vivo antiplasmodial effect of M. senegalensis ethanol extract showed a dose-dependent significant decrease in malaria parasite count in mice infected with P. berghei (P = 0.001)
The highest reduction of parasitaemia was observed at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of mice treated with M. senegalensis ethanol extract as compared to the negative control group

Summary

Introduction

In Tanzania and elsewhere, medicinal plants, including Maytenus senegalensis, are still widely used in the treatment of malaria and other ailments. The decoction of the stem bark and root is used traditionally in the folk medicine in Africa for the treatment of a number of diseases and health conditions, including. In Kagera region, in Tanzania, the root bark is used in traditional medicine by traditional healers and the community to treat malaria, fever, pain and chronic illnesses [2,4]. Most of the population in rural communities in Tanzania and in other African countries relies on herbal medicines for their health. Percent Parasitaemia per mouse (%) Neg. control SP (25/1.25) Mean (%). Despite the efforts of government of the United Republic of Tanzania to make modern health service accessible, available and acceptable to all, most of people in rural areas reside distances away from the facilities and that, the road infrastructure linking some of the communities to the health facilities are in some seasons of the year are inaccessible, especially during rainy seasons [14,15,16]

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