In vivo antiplasmodial activities of aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark against Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice

Abstract

Context: Bridelia ferruginea Benth (Euphorbiaceae) is an indigenous medicinal plant in Nigeria. It is usually a gnarled shrub which sometimes reaches the size of a tree in suitable condition. Decoctions of parts of this plant have been employed in ethno medicine in many parts of Africa for treatment of many ailments including malaria fever.

Objective: In vivo antiplasmodial activity of aqueous stem bark extract of BF was investigated against Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.

Materials and methods: The aqueous stem bark extract of BF (100–400 mg/kg) was administered orally to P. berghei-infected mice in both early and established models of antiplasmodial studies.

Results: The extract exhibited significant (p < 0.05) antiplasmodial activity in early and established infection tests with a considerable mean survival time comparable to that of chloroquine, 10 mg/kg. The oral LD₅₀ obtained was greater than 5000 mg/kg in mice.

Discussion and conclusions: The findings show that aqueous stem bark extract of Bridelia ferruginea possesses considerable antiplasmodial activity which can be developed in malaria therapy.

Keywords::

• Herbal medicine
• phytochemical screening
• antimalarial activity
• suppressive test
• curative test

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to Mrs. Jemilat A. Ibrahim for her botanical assistance.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.