In Vivo anti-Plasmodium Potential of Aloe barbadensis Anthraquinones and its Combination with Amodiaquine

Abstract

Antimalarial drug resistance is a critical global health challenge. This study investigates the antiplasmodial activities of anthraquinones and their combination with amodiaquine. Twenty-five experimental mice were examined in five groups, each receiving varying concentrations of the compound, either singly or in combination with 40 mg/kg amodiaquine. All the solvent fractions significantly inhibited Plasmodium parasitemia in the order of methanol > ethyl acetate > n-hexane (P < 0.01). The highest reduction in parasitaemia (0.53±0.20 parasites/µL) was recorded with the methanolic fraction at 200μg/kg, while the lowest (3.7±1.2 parasites/µL) was observed with n-hexane at 800 μg/kg. At a dose of 200 μg/kg, the compound exhibited significant prophylactic and suppressive activities (P <0.01). The combination of 200 μg/kg anthraquinones and 40 mg/kg amodiaquine exhibited an optimum suppression rate, while the least (67.4%) was recorded with 800 μg/kg. Curative synergy was significantly observed between the standard drug and anthraquinones at 800 μg/kg (P <0.01). The study advocates further studies on the mechanism behind the antiplasmodium activity of the combination and its safety for human consumption.