INVESTIGATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF PICRALIMA NITIDA STEM BARK EXTRACT FOR ANTIOXIDANT, HEMATOLOGICAL AND ANTIMALARIAL STUDIES

ABSTRACT

The existence of essential bioactive compounds in the Picralima nitida stem bark has demonstrated useful advantages in terms of antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. In this work, methanol extract of the Picralima nitida stem bark was investigated for its antioxidant, hematological, and antimalarial activity. Using standard methods, the extract's antioxidant ability was evaluated at doses ranging from 1 to 200 μg/mL, revealing a concentration-dependent increase in scavenging activity, reaching 64.56% at 200 μg/mL. Hematological research of Swiss mice found that different extract concentrations had varying effects on platelet count (PLT) which was 990.7±151.7, mean platelet volume (MPV) which was 10.4±1.3, platelet distribution width (PDW) which was 11.1 ±1.8, platelet count (PCT) which was 1.0±0.4 and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) which was 6.8±13.3 in the control group. Furthermore, the extract demonstrated considerable antimalarial action, with dosedependent decrease of Plasmodium berghei parasitaemia ranging from 34.90% to 58.25% at dosages of 200 mg/kg to 800 mg/kg. In comparison to chloroquine, a conventional antimalarial medication, the chemosuppressive effects exhibited a similar efficacy range; however, chloroquine demonstrated superior effectiveness. These findings emphasize the therapeutic benefits of P. nitida stem bark extract in antioxidant and haematological activities, as well as malaria treatment.