Antimalarial Potential of Methanolic and Aqueous Extracts of Leaves, Root and Stem-Bark of Vitex doniana
Published: 2020-02-06
Page: 18-24
Issue: 2020 - Volume 3 [Issue 1]
A. C. V. Uzoho *
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
A. C. Ene
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
C. U. Igwe
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating the antimalarial potential of methanolic and aqueous extracts of leaves, root and stem bark of Vitex doniana.
Materials and Methods: Apparently healthy parts of V. doniana (leaves, root and stem bark) were obtained from a farm in Abakaliki, Nigeria. They were air dried and milled into powder and were extracted using methanol and water as solvent respectively. Thirty (30) Swiss male albino mice weighing 15-20 g were used for this study. They were acclimatized for 14 days and randomly divided into 10 groups of 3 mice each. The chloroquine resistant Plasmodium berghei (NK 65) used was obtained from the Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan. The parasite was maintained by sub-passaging into healthy mice via an intraperitoneal route. Treatment of the animals began 24 hours after infection with the parasite and parasitaemia confirmed. Groups A and B were treated with aqueous and methanol leaf extract of V. doniana respectively. Groups C and D were treated with aqueous and methanol root extract of V. doniana respectively. Groups E and F were treated with aqueous and methanol stem-bark extracts of V. doniana respectively. Groups G, H and I were treated with the standard drugs Artemether, Artesunate and Chloroquine respectively and Group J were administered the vehicle (normal saline) and this group served as the negative control group. The administrations were done once a day for 14 days via the intraperitoneal route. Parasitaemia was monitored in all the groups starting from day 0 to day 14 using thick and thin blood films made from blood obtained from the tail vein of mice.
Results: The infected animals treated with methanol stem bark extract of V. doniana was compared on day 0 and 10, there was a great reduction in parasitaemia level from 5.33±0.58 to 3.33±0.58 as compared to 6.67±1.15 to 43.0 ±2.65 in untreated group and 5.33±0.58 to 5.67±1.15 in Chloroquine treated group.
Conclusion: From the result of this study, it can be said that methanolic extract of V. doniana stem bark is more potent as an antimalarial agent.
Keywords: Antimalarial potential, Vitex doniana, chloroquine resistant, Plasmodium berghei.