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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-plasmodial potential and safety profile of the methanol extract of D. microcarpum stem bark. The anti-plasmodial activity was assessed in mice infected with chloroquinesensitive Plasmodium berghei berghei. The experimental animals were divided into four groups namely: Group 1(normal control animals and Group II (parasitemia-treated control animals). Animals in group III and IV were given Chloroquine and 250mg/kg body weight of methanol extract of respectively for 5 days, after which the rats were sacrificed and biochemical tests were conducted. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data, followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test. The results obtained show that parasitemia-infection caused a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in plasma Albumin as well as in liver MDA levels. The levels of Total Bilirubin and hepatic enzymes (ALT and AST) were significantly increased in the liver following parasitemia-infection. Treatment with 250mg/kg body weight methanol extract of D. microcarpum provided significant protection from the parasitemia-infection aberrations, being more effective than chloroquine treated. The results suggest that the stem bark extract of D. microcarpum at the dose tested possesses anti-plasmodial activity and is relatively safe after short-term use.
