Antiplasmodial activity of total alkaloids and flavonoids of stem bark extracts of Enantia chlorantha in mice

AbstractPlant-derived compounds have played vital roles in the management of malaria infections. Thus,Enantia chlorantha (Anonaceae) is one of such plants used in folklore medicine in Nigeria for the treatment of malaria. There is, therefore, a need to validate the potential in this plant by investigating its in vivo antiplasmodial activity againstPlasmodium berghei-infected mice. The alkaloid and flavonoid extracts were extracted from the crude extract following standard procedure. The crude extract was orally administered toPlasmodium berghei-infected mice at 200, 400 and 800  mg/kg bodyweight (kgbw), while flavonoid fraction and alkaloid extract were each administered at a dose of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kgbw respectively for 4 days after establishment of infection. The bodyweights and packed cell volume were determined at pre- and post-treatment of infected animals, whi le parasitaemia was monitored daily throughout the period of treatment. Results showed that parasitaemia count was lowered in mice administered with crude and alkaloid extracts in a dose-dependent manner while the effect of the flavonoid fraction was not significant compared with infected, untreated mice (p >  0.05). The percentage parasite inhibition of the crude and alkaloid extracts ranged between 59–73% and 56–70% respectively, while that of the flavonoid fraction was in the range of 28–39%. The animals treated with crude and alkaloid extracts did not suffer much bodyweight loss. However, o...
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research