PRECLINICAL ANTIMALARIAL EVALUATION OF A BI-HERBAL COMBO OF ENANTIA CHLORANTHA AND NAUCLEA LATIFOLIA (BHE BATCH 2) IN MICE INFECTED WITH PLASMODIUM BERGHEI (NK65).

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimalarial potential of a bi-herbal extract comprising of Enantia chlorantha stem bark and Nauclea latifolia root bark. The antimalarial efficacy of the combined hydroethanolic extract was done using the 4-day suppressive antimalarial study in mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei. The experimental animals, twenty-five (25) in number, were randomly distributed into five groups namely: Group 1 (negative control), group 2 (positive control), group 3 (BHE2_A), group 4 (BHE2_B) and group 5 (BHE2_C). Positive control mice were infected with 2×10⁴ P. berghei and treated with 25 mg/kg b.wt. chloroquine; negative control mice were infected with 2×10⁴ P. berghei and received normal saline; whilst groups 3-5 were infected with 2×10⁴ P. berghei and treated with 50, 100 and 250 mg/kg b.wt. of the bi-herbal extract respectively. The bi-herbal extract caused a decrease in parasitemia at all doses tested with 250 mg/kg b.wt. being the most effective. The results suggest that BHE2 has antimalarial activity.