ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (9), pp. 131-142, December, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
In vivo antimalarial activity of hydromethanolic leaf extract of Calpurnia aurea (Fabaceae) in Mice infected with chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei
Mebrahtu Eyasu1, Workineh Shibeshi2 and Mirutse Giday3
1Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Department of Pharmacology, P.O. BOX 1271 Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
2 Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis
Ababa University. P.O. Box 1176 Addis Ababa Ethiopia.,
3Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 18 November, 2013
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most serious health problems worldwide and treatment has been compromised by drug resistance. Consequently, efforts are directed towards discovery of novel agents including from medicinal plants. The present study was aimed to evaluate the suppressive, curative and prophylactic activity of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Calpurnia aurea in mice infected with chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei (1x107parasites/mouse). The extract (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg), chloroquine (5 mg/kg) and distilled water (0.2ml/day) were administered orally for four days. Then parasitemia, packed cell volume, body weight, rectal temperature and survival time of mice were monitored. The 60 mg/kg dose in 4-day suppressive, curative and prophylactic tests had maximum parasitemia chemosuppression of 51.15, 47.77 and 36.8% (P<0.001 in all cases) respectively with significant effect on survival time (4-day suppressive test) compared to negative control. In 4-day suppressive test, the extract had prevented packed cell volume reduction at 15 and 30 mg/kg doses (P<0.05) compared to negative control. In prophylactic test, extract doses at 15mg/kg (p<0.001) and 60mg/kg (p<0.05) prevented body weight loss compared to negative control. The present work establishes antiplasmodial activity of the plant which can be a potential source of new chemotherapeutic and/or chemoprophylactic compounds.
Key words: antimalarial activity, Calpurnia aurea, Plasmodium berghei, Mice, in vivo.