The antimalarial activities of ethanolic root extracts of two plants used traditionally as malarial remedies in southern Nigeria, Uvaria chamae (Annonaceae) and Hippocratea africana (Hippocrateaceae), were studied in vivo, in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei. The extract of U. chamae, when given orally at 300-900 mg/kg.day, exhibited significant antimalarial activity against both early and established infections. When established infections were treated, the mean survival time of the mice observed with this extract at 900 mg/kg.day was similar to that seen with the positive control: chloroquine at 5 mg/kg.day. The extract of H. africana, tested at oral doses of 200-600 mg/kg.day, also demonstrated promising blood schizontocidal activity, both in early and established infections. Although the question of their toxicities has still to be fully addressed, it is clear that both U. chamae and H. africana possess considerable antimalarial activity and they, or drugs based on their antimalarial constituents, may prove useful in the treatment of human malaria.

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The in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the ethanol root extract of Homalium letestui used as a malaria remedy in Southern Nigeria was evaluated in Plasmodium berghei berghei infected mice. Homalium letestui root extract (500-1000 mg/kg/day) exhibited significant (p < 0.05) blood schizontocidal activities both in a 4-day early infection test and in an established infection with a considerable mean survival time comparable to that of the standard drug, chloroquine, 5 mg/kg/day. The root extract possesses significant (p < 0.05) antiplasmodial activity, which can be exploited in malaria therapy.

The antimalarial activity of an ethanol leaf extract of Setaria megaphylla was studied in vivo in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei during early and established infections. Setaria megaphylla (100-300 mg/kg/day) exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) blood schizonticidal activity in 4-day early infection and in established infection with a significant (p < 0.05) mean survival time comparable to that of the standard drug, chloroquine, 5 mg/kg/day. The leaf extract possesses a promising antiplasmodial activity in vivo which can be exploited in malaria therapy.

The antimalarial activity of ethanolic stembark extract of Mammea africana was studied in vivo in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei during early and established infections.Mammea africana extract(30 -90mg/kg/day) exhibited a significant (P<0.05) blood schizontocidal activity both in 4-day early infection and in established infection with a significant mean survival time comparable to that of the standard drug,chloroquine,5mg/kg/day.The stembark extract posseses a promising antiplasmodial activity which can be exploited in malaria therapy.