ANTIPLASMODIAL ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOL AND ETHYL ACETATE STEM-BARK EXTRACT/FRACTION OF Blighia sapida K.D. KOENIG ON MICE INFECTED WITH Plasmodium berghei

Abstract

Reduction and probably eradication of future occurrence of resistance in malarial parasite demand urgent attention towards the development of alternative antimalarial drugs with new mechanisms of action. In view of this, the study investigated the in vivo antiplasmodial activities of ethanol stem-bark extract and ethyl acetate fraction of Blighia sapida against Plasmodium berghei in mice, to provide scientific support for the ethnomedicinal uses of the plant. Ethanol extract (EE) and ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of B.  Sapida stem bark were evaluated for in vivo antimalarial activity, using mice model. EE at doses of 250, 500, 1000 mg/kg, and EAF at doses of 125, 250, 500 mg/kg body weight were administered orally. Pyrimethamine, Chloroquine, and Artemether served as positive controls while 0.9% normal saline was given to the negative control group. At doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, EE produced chemosuppression of 90.72, 85.62, and 94.06% in prophylactics, 59.33, 75.33, and 82.89% in suppressive and in the curative model on Day 7, 59.46, 59.91, and 56.70% respectively. At doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, EAF produced chemosuppression of 45.95, 50.74, and 69.12% in prophylactics, 57.97, 66.11, and 81.06 in suppressive and in curative model 71.13, 74.52, and 82.80 % respectively. Results obtained were compared with the standard antimalaria drugs (89.46, 75.37, and 95.54% for pyrimethamine, chloroquine, and artemether, respectively). Results showed that the extract and fraction of B. Sapida possessed potent antiplasmodial activities at different doses considered, which supports its use as antimalarial ethnomedicinally.