In vivo antitrypanosomal evaluation of some medicinal plant extracts from Ogun state, Nigeria

Aqueous extracts of 5 medicinal plants comprising of the root bark of Morinda morindiodes and leaves of Tithonia diversifolia, Lippia multiflora, Ocimum gratissimum and Acalypha wilkesiana were investigated for antitrypanosomal activities in albino rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The plant extracts at 400mg/kg body weight (of rats) were administered once daily for 7 days in an established infection of 5 x 106 parasitaemia before starting treatment. There was significant reduction in parasitaemia (P< 0.05) on the 3rd day of treatment in rats treated with Morinda morindiodes, Tithonia diversifolia and Acalypha wilkesiana but parasitaemia later increased till survival time. Morinda morindiodes, a plant well known for its potents antimalarial effect, has it root bark extracts exhibiting the highest value of mean survival time (12.6+0.7) days this study. The result may probably suggest reduction in parasite virulence by Morinda morindiodes root bark extract. Keywords: Antitrypanosomal, evaluation, medicinal plants, in vivo, Ogun State, Nigeria

Anti-malaria activity of bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude ethanol extract of Tithonia diversifolia leaves

Malaria has remained one of the most devastating diseases in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world despite global effort at eradicating it. The use of natural products from plants have been very successful in the therapy of malaria especially in third world countries such as those in Africa where the people cannot afford the costly effective drugs. This study investigates the in vivo suppresstive anti-plasmodial activity of ethanol extract and fractions of T. diversifolia leaves using albino mice infected with Chloroquine-sensitive P. berghei (P. bergheiS) intraperitoneally. Possible effects on the haematological indices were monitored using standard laboratory protocols. Oral administration of the ethanol extract of T. diversifolia leaves to mice caused no death at doses ranging from 10-5,000 mg/kg. The relative presence of the phytochemical contents in the extract were in the order: reducing sugar &gt; alkaloids &gt; steroids &gt; phenol &gt; terpenoids &gt; tannins &gt; soluble carbohydrate. Ethanol crude extract of T. diversifolia at varying doses significantly (p&lt;0.05) reduced parasitaemia compared to the fractions of the extract and chloroquine (10 mg/kg b.w) when administered separately in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Out of the ten (10) fractions of the crude extract, C70:M30 fraction at 400 mg/kg b.w significantly (p&lt;0.05) reduced parasitaemia compared to the other fractions. A significant (p&lt;0.05) enhancement of the haematological indices was observed in the parasitized mice treated with the ethanol crude extract and C70:M30 fraction of T. diversifolia. The findings of this study suggests that the ethanol crude extract and bioactive fraction (C70:M30) of T. diversifolia leaves demonstrated antiplasmodial activity and boosted haematological indices in malaria infected mice.Keywords: Malaria; haematology; chloroquine; phytochemical

Use of beverages in the administration of artemether lumefantrin in drug resistant Plasmodium berghei malaria infection

Oral administration of antimalarials with beverages instead of water to evade drug odour and taste may undermine the current gains recorded in the fight against malaria if the associated drug-nutrient interaction compromises its efficacy. This study determined changes in blood chemistry and parasitaemia of Plasmodium passaged mice treated with artemether lumefantrin administered with selected locally consumed beverages. Using Rane’s test, 40 albino mice inoculated with quinine resistant Q (N1923) Plasmodium berghei were randomized into eight groups of five mice and treated with water and 1.14/6.85 mg/kg artemether lumefantrin co-administered with water, coconut water, Nescafe® solution, coca cola, aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces (zobo) and Lipton® teabag from day 3 to day 5. Antimalarial activity was determined from tail blood smears on day 3 just before treatment and on day 6 and 9. Treatment commenced from day 3 today 5. Liver and kidney function and lipid parameters were determined using standard methods. Data were analyzed for significance of disparity using one-way analysis of variance at 95 % confidence level. Results revealed that coconut water, Lipton and Zobo aqueous extract co-administration with artemeter lumefantrin treatment significantly (p&lt;0.05) reduced and cleared parasitaemia by day 9 like the water administration treatment. The ACT co-administration with aqueous Lipton teabag extracts and coconut water increased triglycerides and HDL levels while there was no significant change (p&gt;0.05) in the other lipids parameters. Liver and kidney function parameters were not significantly different (p&gt;0.05) in the beverage administered treatment when compared to the water administered treatment. Drug-nutrient interaction of artemether lumefantrin with plant derived beverages did not compromise its efficacy and safety.Keywords: drug resistance, arthemeter lumefantrin, beverages, nutrient

Haematological and anti-oxidant changes associated with chloroquine resistance reversal by leaf extract of Moringa oleifera Lam

Anti-oxidant and heamatological indices in mice passaged with quinine resistant Plasmodium berghei treated with chloroquine co-administered with flavonoid rich anti-plasmodial fraction of Moringa oleifera leaves were determined in this study. Using Rane’s test, 60 male albino mice were randomized into 10 groups of six mice each. Nine groups were inoculated with quinine resistant strains of Plasmodium berghei and treated with tween 80, 10 mg/kg chloroquine (CQ) co-administered with graded concentrations of fractions of Moringa oleifera leaves, and standard artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) drug, Artemether lumefantrin at a dose of 1.14/6.85 mg/kg, while the uninfected Tenth Group was treated with tween 80. In addition to the parasitaemia suppression, malondialdehyde (MDA), enzymic anti-oxidant activities, non enzymic anti-oxidants concentrations and heamatological indices were determined from blood collected by ocular puncture using standard methods. Phytochemical profiling of fraction was done using standard methods. The extract co-administration with 10 mg/kg CQ significantly (p&lt;0.05) dose and time dependently suppressed parasitaemia in the treated groups with total parasite clearance observed in the ACT and CQ-fraction treated-groups by day 9. Meanplasma MDA concentration were significantly (p&lt;0.05) decreased in the CQ-fraction treatments when compared with the ACT treatment. Mean packed cell volume and white blood cell counts were decreased but not significantly (p&gt;0.05) in the CQ-fraction treated groups when compared to the ACT treated-group. The finding of this study has demonstrated the CQ resistance reversal of extract of M. oleifera leaves with amelioration of malarial-induced haematological and oxidative stress.Keywords: resistance reversal, Moringa oleifera, co-administration, anti-oxidant