Malaria is an Anopheles mosquito-borne transmissible illness that afflicts other animals and humans globally, particularly in tropical Africa. The investigation of the phytochemical, acute toxicity and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the leaves of Ficus elastica Roxb.exHornem was carried out to examine its impacts on mice infected with the malaria parasite. The presence of glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoid, phenolics, tannins and eugenols with no traces of steroids was revealed by the phytochemical screening of the methanol extract of Fiscus elastica. The acute toxicity investigation revealed that the plant extract is comparatively harmless within the 14 days of administered doses of 100 mg/kg, 500 mg/ kg and 1000 mg/kg. In vivo, cell-growth inhibition assessment of the graded doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of the F. elastica tree bark methanol extract (FBME) against Plasmodium berghei strain revealed a significant rise in the inhibitory activity (68%, 70% and 71%) as the concentration of the methanol extract of F. elastica Roxb.exHornem increased. For the prophylactic study against P. berghei, the level of significance also increases as the administered doses of the FBME (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) increased when compared to the control (0.2 ml distil water and 10 mg/kg chloroquine). The result signifies that methanol leave extract of F. elastica Roxb.exHornem posses' significant antiplasmodial activities and could be used for treating malaria parasites.
Ganoderma lucidum is a popular woody and spongy mushroom (fungi) widely distributed throughout the world. It is commonly used in the production of nutriceuticals, functional foods and also serves as a therapeutic herb used in the treatment of several diseases. This study was aimed at evaluating the phytochemicals, proximate composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities as well as acute toxicity of the crude methanol extract of G. lucidum. The phytochemicals, proximate composition and antioxidant potential were determined using already established methods. The formalin-induced inflammation and acetic acid-induced writhing techniques were applied to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities respectively. Phytochemicals detected were saponins, flavonoids and terpenoids. The moisture content, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, total ash, alcohol extractive value and water extractive value were 12.53 ± 0.18%, 1.45 ± 0.21%, 2.68 ± 0.51%, 3.31 ± 0.2%, 1.41 ± 0.00% and 1.07 ± 0.01% respectively. The IC50 values for the DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the extract and ascorbic acid standard) were 31.56 ± 1.30 and 18.84 ± 2.06 µg/mL respectively. The crude extract at the dose of 50 mg/kg body weight showed the highest % inhibition of edema after 4 hours and there was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the number of writhes in a dose dependent manner. In the oral administration of the crude extract to Swiss mice, 100% mortality was recorded at 5000 mg/kg. The study confirms that G. lucidum is a potential source of phytomedicine with substantial pharmacological and antioxidant properties but however, could be toxic at higher doses.
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