ASSESSMENT OF THE SUPPRESSIVE ANTIMALARIAL POTENTIAL OF TRIUMFETTA CORDIFOLIA IN PLASMODIUM BERGHEI (NK65) INFECTED MICE

ABSTRACT

Malaria is a prevalent epidemic in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. In such regions, plants are commonly used for managing the disease. This study examined the suppressive antimalarial potential of Triumfetta cordifolia (TC) leaf infusion in mice infected with chloroquine sensitive (NK65) Plasmodium berghei. Male Swiss albino mice (28) were randomly separated into 4 groups namely; normal control, positive control, negative control and TC. All animals apart from those in the normal control group were infected with 1 x 10⁷ P.berghei. Three hours after infection, animals in negative and normal control were given normal saline, positive control group received 25 mg/kg b.wt. of chloroquine and TC group received 100 mg/kg b.wt of Triumfetta cordifolia leaf infusion. This administration continued for the following 3 days. Samples were collected on days 4 and 10. The study spanned for a total duration of 30 days. Results showed that treatment with TC caused a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in parasitemia on days 4 (5.00 ±0.95%) and 10 (13.97±1.09%) as compared to negative control (9.09 ±1.55% and 48.59±2.51%). This decrease was not significantly different form chloroquine treated group (3.44 ±0.23% and 3.96 ±1.09%). Treatment with chloroquine and the extract also extended mice survival (23.67 ±5.77 vs 23.75±5.38 days respectively). Given that the extract significantly increased the levels of white blood cell (WBC), lympocyte (LYMP) and granulocytes (GRAN) as compared to negative control group, it is possible that its antimalarial activity could be due to immunomodulation.