ISSN 2736-173X
African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 2 (12), pp. 092-095, December, 2014. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
An evaluation of Guiera senegalensis as a common herbal antipyretic and antimalarial among some tribal groups in northern Nigeria
*1Andrew A. Jiga, Kanya O. Helen1, Abubakar N. Dale2 and Emmanuel O. Ogidebo1
1Department of Biochemistry, Malaria and Trypanosomiasis Research, Federal University of Technology,
2Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 12 November, 2014
Abstract
Guiera senegalensis is acclaimed as a common herbal antipyretic and antimalarial among some tribal groups in northern Nigeria. Leaf extracts of the plant were thus tested for antiplasmodial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. Results indicated the safe dose of extracts as 600 mg/kg body weight of mice with LD50 of 1100 mg/kg bw. Only the methanolic fraction had antiplasmodial effect while ethylacetate and hexane fractions were ineffective. Furthermore the methanolic extract produced a significant (p<0.05) suppression of up to 67.52% levels. The extracts had no prophylactic effect and high parasitaemia including mortality of sub-inoculated mice were obtained on day 14 post treatment. It gave 44.83% analgesic effect but was devoid of anti-inflammatory activity. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, tannins and flavonoids.
Key words: Antipyretic, analgesic, antiplasmodial, anti-inflammatory, phytochemical.