Evaluation of in vivo antimalarial activity of the ethanolic leaf extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Cymbopogon citratus in mice

Abstract

countries of the world due to the resistance posed by malaria parasites to most commonly affordable anti-malarials. The anti plasmodial activities of the ethanolic leaf extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Cymbopogon citratus on chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice was evaluated. C. odorata and C. citratus exhibited significant (p < 0.05) blood schizontocidal activity in a four- day early infection test and in established infection with a considerable mean survival time comparable to that of the standard drug chloroquine ( 5mg/ kg/ day). The efficacy of both treatments is further indicated in the consistent increase in weight and slight increase in the PCV levels of the treated groups as against those of the untreated groups. The extracts from both plants showed significant (p < 0.05) anti-plasmodial activity and could serve as possible candidates for the development of new effective drugs for the treatment of malaria.

Keywords: Chromolaena odorata, Cymbopogon citratus, anti-malarial activity, ethanolic leaf extracts

Nig J. Biotech. Vol. 24 (2012) 27-34