Pharmacological Screening and Evaluation of Antiplasmodial Activity of Gongronema latifolium (utazi) Against Plasmodium berghei berghei infection in Mice

Abstract

The antiplasmodial activity of the ethanolic leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium on chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghi berghi infection in mice was investigated in Calabar, Nigeria to assess its traditional use as an antimalarial remedy in Nigeria. The schizonticidal activity of the extract and that of chloroquine were determined in mice. The pharmacological property of the leaf was also assessed using standard procedures. The LD­50 of the extract was estimated using Swiss Albino mice by intraperitoneal route. The extract was found to produce an insignificant chemosuppressive effect during early and established infection. There was a dose dependent reduction in parasitaemia in the extract-treated group which was more pronounced with the highest dose of the extract (750mg/kg). The study has shown that the leaf extract possesses a weak schizonticidal activity that may not be adequate for the treatment of malaria but may be sufficient to alleviate symptoms of malaria like inflammation, pains and fever, thus acting in a similar manner to the analgesic drugs.

Keywords: Pharmacological, Antiplasmodial, Gongronema latifolium

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 51-55