Abstract
This study evaluated the antimalarial, haematological and biochemical status of Plasmodium berghei Anka 65-infected mice treated with methanol extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum stem bark (MEPT). The acute toxicity profile and phyto-constituents were also evaluated. Thirty mice were divided into 6 groups of 5 mice each. Group 1 served as normal control and received distilled water only. Group 2 was parasitized and untreated. Groups 3-5 were parasitized and treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg b.w. body weight of MEPT respectively. Group 6 was parasitized and treated with 28 mg/kg. b.w. of arthemeter/lumenfantrin combination. Malaria parasitemia were monitored on treatment days 0-3. Antioxidant, liver, kidney and lipid peroxidation status were determined using classical methods 5 days post-treatment. There were dose-dependent reductions in malaria parasitemia percentages of groups 3-5 that are comparable with group 6. In addition, there were dose and duration-dependent increases in malaria chemo-suppression in groups 3-5. The existence of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and kidney and liver dysfunctions were observed in group 2 when compared with group 1. Treatment of groups 3-5 with MEPT and group 6 with arthemeter/lumenfantrin for 4 days restored the biochemical anomalies induced by malaria. The extract was tolerable up to 5,000 mg/kg b.w. of MEPT. The presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, carotenoids, glycosides, anthraquinones, terpenoids and anthocyanins were detected in high amounts while phenols was detected in low amount in MEPT. These suggest that MEPT possesses antimalarial activity and normalizes malaria-modified biochemical changes. These effects might be attributed to its bioactive constituents. Keywords: malaria, Peltophorum pterocarpum, phytochemicals, toxicity, biochemical dysfunctions DOI : 10.7176/ALST/73-05 Publication date : April 30 th 2019
Highlights
Morbidity and mortality to malaria has remained unacceptably high globally and majority of individuals who die from malaria are infants, children and pregnant women living in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia (Onaku et al, 2011; WHO, 2018)
3.1 Acute toxicity profile of methanol extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum stem bark (MEPT) The acute toxicity test of MEPT showed that the extract is tolerable; there was neither mortality nor sign of toxicity at doses up to 5,000 mg/kg per body weight of the extract (Table 1)
From days 0-3, the percentage malaria parasitaemia of mice in group 2 were increased significantly (p < 0.05) while those of animals in groups 2-6 had significant (p < 0.05) reduction. This implies that infection with malaria increased the malaria parasitaemia in mice if left untreated as seen in group 2 compared to group 1
Summary
Morbidity and mortality to malaria has remained unacceptably high globally and majority of individuals who die from malaria are infants, children and pregnant women living in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia (Onaku et al, 2011; WHO, 2018). The sudden increase in the urea level and imbalance in the electrolyte levels such as sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, and chloride in patients suffering from malaria could serve as indicators for kidney dysfunction (Jasani et al, 2012). Malaria is such a serious issue because it goes with several complications such as oxidative stress (Chikezie and Okpara, 2013; Oyewolea et al, 2014), hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinaemia (Elased and Playfair, 1994), haematological aberrations (Akin-Osanaiye et al, 2013; Bakhubaira, 2013)
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