Antimalarial effect of ethanol extract of Parinari curatellifolia stem-bark in Plasmodium berghei-NK 65 infected mice.

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold> The use of <italic>Parinari curatellifolia</italic> for the management of malaria by Africans without scientific validation, prompted this study, to investigate the antimalarial effect of ethanol extract of <italic>Parinari curatellifolia</italic> stem bark (EEPCSB) in <italic>Plasmodium berghei (NK-65)</italic> -infected mice. <bold>Method:</bold> Thirty mice (16 -21 g) were grouped into six of five mice each. Group 1 (uninfected) served as normal control while groups 2-6 were infected <italic>.</italic> Group 2 (positive control) was untreated while group 3 (standard control) received 20/120 mg/kg b.w. of arthemeter/lumefantrine, groups 4-6 received 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg b.w. of EEPCSB respectively. The treatment lasted for four consecutive days. Parasitemia, heamatological and biochemical tests were carried out using established methods. The obtained data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). <bold>Result:</bold> The extract significantly (p &lt; 0.05) suppressed the parasitemia, and produced significant (p &lt; 0.05) increase in the PCV, RBC, and Hgb and a significant (p &lt; 0.05) decrease in the WBC of groups 4-6 compared to the positive control. The liver function marker enzymes - AST, ALT, ALP, and total bilirubin were all significantly (p &lt; 0.05) reduced in the treated animals, while there was a significant (p &lt; 0.05) decrease in the total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL, and a significant (p &lt; 0.05) increase in the HDL of the infected animals compared to the positive control. While there was a significant (p &lt; 0.05) reduction in lipid peroxidation marker MDA in the treated groups, the activities of the SOD and catalase, significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased compared to the positive control. The GSH concentration reduced significantly (p &lt; 0.05) in the treated groups compared to the untreated group. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The extract showed excellent antimalarial effect by reducing parasitemia and reversing haematological and biochemical aberrations in <italic>Plasmodium berghei</italic> -infected mice as demonstrated in this study. Therefore, <italic>Parinari curatellifolia</italic> stem bark could be a source of lead compound for a novel and effective antimalarial drug.