Antimalarial activity and Phytochemical analysis of the aqueous stem bark extract of Prosopis Africana (Kirya) against Plasmodium species

Abstract

Studies were conducted to determine the anti-malarial activity of the stem bark water extract, of Prosopis africana, using wistar strain albino rat infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65 strain. The result indicated that, the plant showed a significant (P<0.05) inhibition of the level of parasite when compared with the controls. The most effective dose was found to be 44 mg/kg, it compared favourably with the standard drug (Lumerax®) used in the study. The phytochemical screening of the stem bark revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, saponin, volatile oil and steroids. The studied plant, Prosopis africana bark extract had anti-malaria potentials. It therefore needs to be further investigated.

Keywords: Anti-malaria, Phytochemical screening, Prosopis africana, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [2] September 2011, pp. 271-275