In vivo Efficacy and Toxicity Studies on Erythrina senegalensis and Khaya ivorensis Used as Herbal Remedies for Malaria Prevention in Cameroon.
European J Med Plants
;
2013 Jul-Sept; 3(3): 454-464
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-164038
ABSTRACT
Aim:
The study aimed at assessing the in vivo anti-plasmodial activity of aqueous extracts from Erythrina senegalensis and Khaya ivorensis, two plants used traditionally as bark decoctions in Cameroon to prevent and cure malaria.Methodology:
The antiplasmodial activity of aqueous extracts of E. senegalensis and K. ivorensis was investigated using a murine malaria model (Plasmodium berghei / Anopheles stephensi / BALB/c mice), applying a protocol for assessing the prophylactic potential of the remedy. Treatments were administered orally to BALB/c mice for 9 days at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day. Mice were challenged on day 3 of treatment by exposure to P. berghei infected mosquitoes. The impact on parasitaemia was assessed on thin blood smears prepared on day 7 after exposure to infective bites. The acute toxicity of the plant extracts was tested according to the guidelines of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD guidelines 423).Results:
The plant extracts showed antiplasmodial activity, reducing parasitaemia by 40.4% to 56.3%, according to the extract. In particular, a combination of the two extracts at the dose of 100 mg/kg each provided a reduction of parasitaemia in treated mice by more than 50%, as compared to controls. The extract of E. senegalensis when used alone at 200 mg/kg/day reduced the parasitaemia by 40.3% +/- 7.2%, doubling the dosage increased parasite suppression to 56.3% +/- 5.1%. Toxicity studies yielded comfortingresults:
up to a dosage of 2000 mg/kg no mortality occurred in treated mice. Also, animals treated during the antiplasmodial experiments did not reveal signs of toxicity and remained in good conditions up to the end of the experiments.Conclusion:
The results suggest that the combination of E. senegalensis and K. ivorensis could be a valid plant combination for the preparation of a standardized, effective and affordable remedy against malaria, in particular for Cameroonian communities with limited access to modern drugs.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Type of study:
Practice guideline
Language:
English
Journal:
European J Med Plants
Year:
2013
Type:
Article
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