Anti-malarial activity of the root extract of Euphorbia abyssinica (Euphorbiaceae) against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice

Abstract

Background More than 200 medicinal plants including Euphorbia abyssinica are utilized for treatment of malaria in Ethiopian traditional medical practices. However, the safety, efficacy and quality of these medicinal plants are largely unknown. Pharmacological and toxicological investigations of these plants are among the prioritized issues in every country. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the anti-malarial activity of Euphorbia abyssinica root extract against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Methods The fresh roots of Euphorbia abyssinica were identified and collected. They were dried and extracted by 80% methanol using maceration. Acute toxicity of the extract was done using female Swiss albino mice. Anti-malarial activity of the extract was done by a standard 4-day suppressive test using chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei . Twenty-five male Swiss albino mice were randomly grouped into 5 groups of 5 mice each. Group I was treated with distilled water (10 ml/kg), group II, III, and IV were treated with 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg of extract, respectively and group V was treated with chloroquine (25 mg/kg). The level of parasitaemia, survival time, and variation in weight were utilized to determine the anti-malarial activity of the extract. Data was analysed using ANOVA followed by Tukey test. Results The plant extract did not show any sign of toxicity and mortality at 2000 mg/kg. The 4-day chemosuppressive anti-malarial activities produced by the crude extract were 66.87% (P < 0.001), 84.94% (P < 0.001) and 93.69% (P < 0.001) at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg extract, respectively, compared to distilled water treated group. Mice treated with 400 mg/kg (P < 0.01), and 600 mg/kg extract (P < 0.001) showed significant chemosuppressive anti-malarial activity variations as compared to mice treated with 200 mg/kg extract. Mice treated with 600 mg/kg extract significantly (P < 0.001) lived longer than distilled water treated mice. However, the crude extract did not cause any significant change on body weights of mice. Conclusions From this study, it can be concluded that the root of Euphorbia abyssinica showed very good 4-day chemosuppressive anti-malarial activity. The plant might contain biologically active compounds which are relevant for treatment of malaria. Further phytochemical, toxicological and pharmacological investigations are, therefore, required to evaluate its anti-malarial potential.

Antimalarial Activity of the Leaf Latex ofAloe weloensis(Aloaceae) againstPlasmodium bergheiin Mice

“…e antimalarial activity of the latex of A. weloensis could be due to a single compound or synergetic effect of the secondary metabolites found in the plant. Based on the qualitative screening test, the leaf latex of A. weloensis was found to be positive for the presence of anthraquinones, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, and flavonoids, which have been considered to have antimalarial activity [3,5,8,22,27,[30][31][32]. Moreover, flavonoids which have antioxidant activity may also contribute to the antimalarial activity.…”

In vivo antimalarial activity of crude fruit extract of Capsicum frutescens var. minima (Solanaceae) against Plasmodium berghei infected mice

“…A candidate antimalarial agent should elicit parasite suppression of 30% or greater [39]. Hence, the extract at all doses tested was found to possess a promising chemosuppression effect and found to be active in counteracting the malaria parasite.…”

“…Hence, the extract at all doses tested was found to possess a promising chemosuppression effect and found to be active in counteracting the malaria parasite. Furthermore, if the antimalarial activity of a compound displayed a percent growth inhibition of ≥50% at a dose of 500-250, 250-100 and ≤100 mg/kg/day, literature grades it as moderate, good and very good, respectively [16,39,40].…”

Phytochemicals extracted from Cola nitida leaf possess antimalarial effects and improve derangements in haematological indices of Plasmodium berghei- infected mice.

“…Group C was treated with 20mg/Kg body weight of chloroquine (treated control). Groups D, E and F were inoculated with Plasmodium berghei and administered 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight of the different phytochemicals respectively while group F was treated with 50mg/Kg body weight of the phytochemicals only without parasite inoculation thus serving as extract control.A week after treatment, five (5) mice from each group were sacrificed and blood collected to evaluate the effect of treatment on haematological parameters which is usually greatly affected by malaria infection. The remaining three (3) mice in each group were monitored for up to thirty (30) days.…”

“…The disease is caused by a single-celled obligate Protozoa of the genus Plasmodium 4 of which Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae are the major species that cause malaria and are mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa. Plasmodium falciparum has been reported to be the most virulent among all the species and is responsible for most of the malaria infections in this region 5 . It has been reported that 54% and 90% of the world's and African population are at risk of malaria respectively, with pregnant women and children under 5 years as the most vulnerable groups 3 .…”