<i>In vivo</i> antiplasmodial properties of fractions and flavonoids of <i>Pseudarthria hooheri</i> Wight & Arn. (Fabaceae)

Abstract

Malaria is regarded as one of the most lethal diseases. Resistance to artemisinin and its derivatives jeopardises effective malaria treatment. Finding novel antimalarial chemicals is critical given the existing treatment situation. This work aimed to examine the antiplasmodial capabilities of &lt;i&gt;Pseudarthria hookeri&lt;/i&gt; fractions and flavonoids in vivo. The fractions and compounds antiplasmodial activity were evaluated on male Swiss albino mice infected with &lt;i&gt;Plasmodium berghei&lt;/i&gt;, and on healthy female Swiss albino mice, the crude extract's acute toxicity was assessed. The EtOAc fraction had significant antiplasmodial activity (32.53 percent suppression at 500 mg/kg BW) and considerably prolonged the survival period of infected mice (9.8 days) compared to control mice (7.8 days). Parasitaemia was dramatically reduced (85.01, 59.41, and 70.39 percent), and the mean survival time extended (11.33, 10.00, and 9.33 days) with 15, 20 and 35 mg/kg of quercetin (&lt;b&gt;1&lt;/b&gt;), 7-O-benzyl-6-prenylpinocembrin (&lt;b&gt;6&lt;/b&gt;) and 6,8-diprenyleriodictyol (&lt;b&gt;11&lt;/b&gt;) (isolates of the EtOAc fraction), respectively. BW loss and PCV reduction were also averted. Moreover, at 2500 mg/kg, the crude extract of &lt;i&gt;P. hookeri&lt;/i&gt; showed no acute toxicity in mice. LC-MS analysis of the EtOAc fraction enabled the identification of nine flavonoids, with &lt;b&gt;8&lt;/b&gt; and &lt;b&gt;11&lt;/b&gt; being the main components. The present investigation confirmed &lt;i&gt;P. hookeri&lt;/i&gt;'s antiplasmodial action, substantiating its ethnomedicinal application for malaria treatment.