In vivo antimalarial activity of the 80% methanolic crude fruit extract of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. against Plasmodium berghei infected mice.

Background: Malaria is a public health menace. Resistance to therapeutic armamentarium is impeding its control. Therefore, research targeting the discovery of novel antimalarial drug arsenals is a priority. The important point to begin the search for such drugs is the folkloric medicinal plants. Ripe fruit of Lagenaria siceraria is bored, rinsed with cold water, and one glass is used as a drink early in the morning for the treatment of malaria in Ethiopian folk medicine. In vivo antimalarial efficacy of the plant was not affirmed scientifically, though. Consequently, the present study was conducted to assess the in vivo antiplasmodial effect of Lagenaria siceraria in P. berghei infected mice. Methods: The fruits were extracted using 80% methanol in water. Acute toxicity test was conducted on the extract. Secondary phytochemicals were assessed. The four day suppressive test was employed in mice infected with P. berghei. Thirty mice were grouped in to five and inoculated with P. berghei. After 3 h, three of the groups received the extract at doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. The remaining groups served as negative (2% Tween80) and positive control (chloroquine). Parasitemia, packed cell volume, weight, temperature and survival time were monitored. SPSS version 22 was used for data analysis. Results: No toxicity was seen in mice. The crude extract elicited significant suppression (p < 0.05) of the parasite compared to the negative control. The highest parasite suppression (77.37%) was measured at the upper dose. Furthermore, the crude extract significantly (p < 0.05) prevented body weight loss, anemia, reduction in temperature and prolonged the survival time compared to the negative control. Conclusion: This study asserted that the fruit of Lagenaria siceraria is enriched with in vivo antimalarial activity. Hence, further in depth antimalarial investigations on the plant is strongly recommended.

In Vivo Antimalarial Activity of Crude Fruit Extract of Capsicum frutescens Var. Minima (Solanaceae) against Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice.

BACKGROUND: The alarming spread of parasite resistance to current antimalarial agents is threatening malaria controlling efforts. This, consequently, urged the scientific community to discover novel antimalarial drugs. Successful and most potent antimalarial drugs were obtained from medicinal plants. Capsicum frutescens is claimed to possess an antiplasmodial activity in Ethiopian and Ugandan folkloric medicine. However, there is a lack of pharmacological evidence for its antiplasmodial activity. This study, hence, was aimed at evaluating the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of C. frutescens in a mouse model. METHODS: The dried fruits of the plant were extracted with 80% methanol using cold maceration. A 4-day suppressive test was employed to ascertain the claimed antiplasmodial effect of the plant. Following inoculation with P. berghei, mice in treatment groups were provided with three dose levels (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) of the extract, while 2% Tween 80 and chloroquine served as the negative and positive controls, respectively. Weight, temperature, packed cell volume, parasitemia, and survival time were then monitored. RESULTS: The acute oral toxicity study revealed that the crude extract caused no mortality and revealed no overt sign of toxicity. In the 4-day suppressive test, all dose levels of the extract were found to exhibit a significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of parasitemia compared to those of the negative control. Maximum parasite suppression (93.28%) was exerted by the highest dose (400 mg/kg/day) of extract. Also, the extract significantly (p < 0.05) prolonged survival time and prevented body weight loss and reduction in temperature and anemia compared to the vehicle-treated group. CONCLUSION: This investigation found strong evidence that the fruit extract of C. frutescens is endowed with promising antiplasmodial activity. Hence, the plant could serve as a potential source of a newer antimalarial agent.

Antimalarial Activity of Aqueous and 80% Methanol Crude Seed Extracts and Solvent Fractions of Schinus molle Linnaeus (Anacardiaceae) in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. Moreover, the emergence of resistance to antimalarial drugs is a major problem in controlling the disease. This makes the development of novel antimalarial drugs a necessity. Medicinal plants are important sources in discovering antimalarial drugs. Schinus molle is claimed for its antimalarial effect in Ethiopian folkloric medicine and endowed with in vitro antiplasmodial activity. In the present study, the in vivo antimalarial activity of the plant was investigated. METHODS: Acute toxicity was carried out using a standard procedure. To screen the in vivo antimalarial activity of the plant was investigated. S. molle against Plasmodium berghei (ANKA), a 4-day suppressive test was employed. The extracts and fractions were given to infected mice by oral gavage at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day for four consecutive days. Parameters such as parasitemia were then evaluated. RESULTS: Any sign of toxicity was not observed in the oral acute toxicity test. The crude extracts and solvent fractions exerted a significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of parasite load compared to the negative control. The highest inhibition (66.91%) was exhibited by the 400 mg/kg/day dose of 80% methanolic crude extract. Among the fractions, chloroform fraction demonstrated maximal chemosuppressive effect (55.60%). Moreover, crude extracts and solvent fractions prevented body weight loss, reduction in temperature, and anemia compared to the negative control. Except the aqueous fraction, the tested plant extracts were able to significantly prolong the survival time of infected mice. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study confirmed the safety and a promising in vivo antimalarial activity of S. molle, thus supporting the traditional claim and in vitro efficacy. In-depth investigations on the plant, however, are highly recommended.in vivo antimalarial activity of the plant was investigated. S. molle against in vitro antiplasmodial activity. In the present study, the.