The study assessed the antiplasmodial activity of the ethanolic leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus on chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei in mice. Standard methods were used to determine the bioactive components of the leaf extract, acute toxicity test and antiplasmodial activity. Mice obtained (of body weight 20-25 g) were housed and acclimatized for seven days at room temperature before the commencement of the experiment. A total of 16 albino mice were randomized into four groups of four mice each for acute toxicity while 35 were grouped into five groups of seven mice each for antiplasmodial activity. All the groups 1-5 were infected with P. berghei and were treated for six consecutive days with leaf extract dosage of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, standard antimalarial drug (chloroquine) as positive control and normal saline as negative control respectively. Phytochemical screening/ bioactive compounds of the leaf extract reveals the presence of saponins (10.3 mg/g), tannins (2.38 mg/g), flavonoids (1.87 mg/g), terpenoids (19.12 mg/g), steroids (6.21 mg/g) and glycosides (19.9 mg/g) as secondary metabolites. The leaf extract revealed decrease in body weight of the infected mice and did not show any toxicity at all dosage levels used. The antiplasmodial investigation revealed a decrease in percentage parasitaemia level in mice of extract treated groups compared with mice infected and not treated. The parasitaemia reduction was higher in 800 mg/kg than 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg. This significant decrease (P<0.05) in percentage parasitaemia level in the study was dose and time-dependent. The extract showed significant (p<0.05) antiplasmodial activity and could serve as possible candidates for the development of new effective drugs for the treatment of malaria.
The study assessed the histopathological effects of seed oil of Moringa oleifera on albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. This work included a good idea in the treatment of a causing agent of malaria with Moringa seed oil as bio-natural treatment. Thirty-five mice were divided equally and grouped into five. The mice were acclimatised for seven days and thereafter infected with 0.2 mL Plasmodium berghei (NK65) parasite. The parasites were allowed to establish in the mice for five days before commencement of treatment. Group A - negative control (untreated), group B - positive control (10mg/kg chloroquine treated), group C, D and E were respectively treated with 800, 400, 200 mg/kg seed oil of Moringa oleifera. By oral administration of 0.2 mL of treatment dose, treatment was carried out in four consecutive days and the mice were sacrificed five days thereafter. The liver and kidney extracted from the mice were processed for histological studies. Findings revealed group A had the least packed cell volume (PCV) of 22.23±1.98% and group B had the most PCV of 48.31±1.55% after treatment. The PCV in groups C, D and E were 45.34±1.11%, 41.40±1.00% and 39.19±1.82% respectively after treatment. Coagulative necrosis and inflammation characterised the liver and kidney of mice in groups C and D. Lesions were observed in all the liver of mice treated with the seed oil of M. oleifera and chloroquine. Overall, it can be inferred that the higher the PCV of mice after treatment, the higher the performance of chemotherapeutic agents against parasitaemia. Thus, at 800, 400 and 200 mg/kg dosage, the seed oil of Moringa oleifera could possibly treat malaria. However, administration of a higher dose of the oil and chloroquine should be with caution as both drugs may pose adverse effects on the kidney and liver.
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