Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease which caused around 216 million cases and 445,000 deaths worldwide in 2016. This might be attributed to a wide spread of drug resistant parasites. The plant Aloe megalacantha is indigenous to Ethiopia where the sap of the leaves is traditionally used for the treatment of malaria. This study was aimed at evaluating the antimalarial effect of leaf latex and isolates obtained from Aloe megalacantha against chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain in Swiss albino mice. Peters’ 4-day suppressive test method was used to test the antimalarial activity of both leaves latex and isolates. Three isolates were obtained using thin layer chromatography and were coded as AM1, AM2, and AM3 in ascending order of their retention factor. After treatment of Plasmodium berghei infected mice with leaf latex of Aloe megalacantha for four days at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, it shows 30.3%, 43.4%, and 56.4% suppression of the parasite growth, respectively. 32.3%, 51.3%, and 67.4% chemosuppression after treatment with AM1, 39.8%, 50.6%, and 64.2% chemosuppression after treatment with AM2, and 52.6%, 69.4%, and 79.6% chemosuppression after treatment with AM3 were observed at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day, respectively. The observed parasite suppression of leaves latex and isolates was statistically significant (P<0.05) as compared to negative control. Moreover, both the leaves latex and isolates were also observed to prevent Plasmodium berghei induced body weight loss and hypothermia and increased the survival time of Plasmodium berghei infected mice as compared to the negative control. Hence, the present study supports the traditional claim of the plant for the treatment of malaria.

Background Aloe megalacantha Baker (Xanthorrhoeaceae) is one of the Aloe species widely distributed in Ethiopia. The leaf latex of the plant is used for treatment of wounds, inflammation, and other multiple ailments in Ethiopian traditional medicine. Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities of the leaf latex of Aloe megalacantha in mice. Methods The wound healing activity of the leaf latex of the plant was studied topically by incorporating the latex in simple ointment base in a concentration of 5% (w/w) and 10% (w/w) using excision and incision models. In these models, wound contraction, period of epithelialization, and breaking strength of the wounded skin were determined. Carrageenan induced inflammation of paw model was also used to assess the anti-inflammatory activity of the leaf latex at doses of 200 mg/kg, 400mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg. The level of inflammation suppressions were measured at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hrs after carrageenan injection, and then the percentages of inflammation inhibition were computed as compared with the negative control. Result In both wound models, mice treated with 5% (w/w) and 10% (w/w) latex ointment showed a significant (p<0.05) increment in the rate of wound contraction, reduction in epithelialization time, and higher skin breaking strength. Besides, the latex also exhibited a dose-dependent significant (p<0.05) reductions of inflammation as compared to negative control groups. Conclusion The overall results of this study demonstrate that the leaf latex of A. megalacantha possesses wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities which can scientifically substantiate the traditional use of the plant as a wound healing agent.

Objective. To evaluate the antimalarial effect of aqueous methanolic extract and solvent fractions of Meriandra dianthera leaves against Plasmodium berghei in mice model. Method. M. dianthera leaves were extracted with 80% methanol and dried. The dried crude extract was then defatted and further fractionated with chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol. Acute oral toxicity test was performed as per the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guideline 425. Peter’s 4-day suppressive test was used to determine the in vivo antimalarial activity of the extract and fractions. Result. The crude leaf extract of Meriandra dianthera showed parasite inhibition of 42.28% and 45.52% at doses of 400 and 600 mg/kg, respectively, as compared to the negative control. Moreover, the mice which received chloroform and aqueous fractions at the dose of 400 mg/kg/day showed significant (P<0.001) chemosuppression compared to the negative control. Both the extract and fractions were able to prevent P. berghei induced body weight loss and body temperature reduction and also increased the survival time of the mice as compared to the negative control. The aqueous methanolic leaf extract of M. dianthera showed no gross signs of toxicity or mortality in mice until a single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg. Conclusion. The extracts of M. dianthera leaves showed promising antimalarial activity, with no sign of toxicity and therefore may support its traditional use for the treatment of malaria.

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Prescription and/or over the counter medications when taken together with certain foods or herbal substances, leads to either increase or decrease a drug’s therapeutic out comes or adverse effects. It has been reported that a number of plant materials alter some pharmacokinetic parameters of chloroquine when administered concurrently. In some malarious areas of Ethiopia like Tigray region where chloroquine is used as antimalarial drug, medicinal and/or food plants are commonly consumed as herbal medicines or as food items. Thus, this study was aimed to evaluate the potential consequence of oral co-administration of hydroalcoholic fruit extract of Balanites aegyptiaca and leaf latex of Aloe camperi on the antimalarial effectiveness of chloroqine. Extract alone and extract in combination with chloroquine were tested against plasmodium berghie infected mice using peters four day suppressive method. Acute toxicity study was also carried out. The present study revealed that concurrent administrations of leaf extract of Balanites aegyptiaca and leaf leatx of Aloe camperi was found to increase parasitemia suppression potential of chloroquine. From the study it can be concluded that Balanites aegyptiaca and leaf leatx of Aloe camperi can potentiate malaria suppression of chloroquine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of African moringa (Moringa stenopetala) leaf preparations using easily applicable analytical methods. For this purpose, a novel simple and fast LC‐UV method was developed and validated to determine the most common phenolic compounds. The method showed good linearity with determination coefficients (r2) ≥ 0.999. Detection limits were below 0.4 μg/ml and quantification limits below 1.2 μg/ml. Relative standard deviation (RSD) values for intra‐ and inter‐day precision were less than 2% and recoveries were close to 100%. Robustness of the method was evaluated using an experimental design. The developed method was applied to analyze some commercial moringa leaf samples obtained from Ethiopia. Unknown compounds were tentatively identified as neochlorogenic acid and kaempferol 3‐O‐rhamnosylglucoside (KRG) by means of mass spectrometry (MS). Rutin was found to be the most common compound. Its content in samples varied from 2 to 18 mg/g. The amounts of (neo)chlorogenic acid and KRG were less than 2 mg/g, while quercetin and caffeic acid were not detected. The method allowed to observe differences in phenolic composition between regions. Results for loss on drying and ash content revealed that 40% and 50%, respectively, of the samples were not compliant. Novelty Impact Statement Quality control of formulations of Moringa stenopetala leaves is as good as non‐existent due to lack of suitable test procedures. The analytical methods proposed here are easily applicable in low‐income countries and include a novel LC‐UV method for the phenolic compounds, loss on drying, and ash contents. The combined tests were found to be successful in differentiating the quality of different commercial samples.

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Objective Some easily applicable analytical methods were explored to evaluate the quality of personal care products containing aloe leaf gel. Aloins should be absent in these products in view of their side effects. To check this, liquid chromatography (LC) was applied. Methods The LC method used a C18 monolithic column combined with gradient elution and ultraviolet (UV) detection. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of 0.1% formic acid in water (A) and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile (B). The method was validated with respect to specificity, linearity, precision and accuracy. Next, it was practically applied for the analysis of commercial samples. In addition, the pH and moisture content were determined. Results The LC results indicated that aloins were detected in 25% of the analysed commercial samples. Further, it turned out that 42% of the test samples were found to be in the basic pH range and 33% of them contained excessive moisture. Conclusion Proper quality control and adequate labelling of aloe leaf gel‐based cosmetics are mandatory to avoid side effects.