Antiplasmodial activity of stem-bark extract of Milicia excelsa (welw.) C.c.berg against rodent malaria parasites (Plasmodium berghei) in mice

Abstract

Plants have played significant role as a reservoir of active phytochemicals in the treatment of malaria infection worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the antiplasmodial activity of ethanolic extract of Milicia excelsa. Plasmodium berghei (NK) infection in mice was used as a model for malaria infection. Ethanolic extract of M. excelsa at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day were evaluated in the suppressive (early infection), prophylactic (residual infection) and curative  (established infection) phases. Results showed that the ethanolic extract of M. excelsa demonstrated a dose-dependent chemo-suppression in early and residual infections. At 250, 500 and 1000  mg/kg , the suppression were 76.7%, 80% and 96.7% respectively while in the prophylactic; at the lowest dose of 250mg/kg, the extract suppressed parasite growth by 42.43%, 45.28%, 59.82% and 66.61% after treatment for 2, 3, 4 and 5 days respectively. These results are significantly (p<0.5) different from the control. In the curative assay, the extract demonstrated a significant non-dose-dependent antiplasmodial activity in established infection known as curative; even at the lowest dose of 250mg/kg, the extract reduced parasite growth by 42.43%, 45.28%, 59.82% and 66.61% after treatment with the extract for 2, 3, 4 and 5 days respectively. These results showed that the extract possesses significant antiplasmodial activities, therefore the extract could be a potential candidate for antimalarial drug.