Antimalarial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Root Bark of Salacia nitida L. Benth in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei
Barine I. Nwiloh *
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Joyce O. Akaninwor
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Augustine A. Uwakwe
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the in vivo antimalarial activity of ethanolic extract of root bark of Salacia nitida in mice infected with Plasmodium bergei.
Methods: Prophylactic and curative antimalarial activity of ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida was studied using sixty-six healthy mice infected with chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei. 430 mg/kg body weight/day of the extract was given orally infected mice in the prophylactic test for 11 days, while 280 – 580 mg/kg body weight/day of extract was orally administered to the malaria infected mice in the curative test for 5 days, against 4 mg/kg body weight/day of artesunate drug. The antimalarial effect of the ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida on the parasites was determined.
Results: The ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida at a dose of 430 mg/kg body weight/day caused 89.77% inhibition in the levels of parasitaemia in the prophylactic test and 33.78% - 88.45% inhibitions of parasitaemia levels in the curative tests.
Conclusion: The results showed that the ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida possessed significant (p < 0.05) antimalarial activity, thus supporting its traditional use in the treatment of malaria.
Keywords: Antimalarial activity, mice, parasitaemia levels, Plasmodium berghei, prophylactic test, Salacia nitida