ABSTRACT

Malaria is an infectious disease spread to humans by the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Vernonia amygdalina is a commonly grown plant in the country, and its huge presence with ease of cultivation makes its medicinal capability worth exploring. Therefore, this study sort to assess the toxicity and in vivo antimalarial activity of Vernonia amygdalina in mice.

Acute toxicity was done using the OECD 2001 method. This was followed by investigating Vernonia amygdalina for its antimalarial potential in mice model of malaria. In the acute study, no deaths were observed when mice were administered the extract up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg b.wt, indicating that the extract is safe at that dose. For the malaria study, the Peter’s 4-day suppressive study was done by infecting mice with 1x10⁵ chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei (NK-65) followed by the oral administration of chloroquine (standard antimalarial drug at 25 mg/kg b.wt.) and graded doses of the extract (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight). Administration was for 4 days. Chloroquine and the extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt. resulted in a significant decrease in parasitemia as compared to the negative control group (received the vehicle, normal saline) on days 4 and 10. The findings of this study suggests that Vernonia amygdalina is viable and safe for use in the treatment of malaria.