Antimalarial activity of crude hydromethanolic extract and solvent fractions of leaves of Stephania abyssinica (Menispermaceae) against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice

Abstract

Background: The appearance of drug resistant malaria especially first line antimalaria drugs and insecticide resistant mosquitoes are the major obstacles for malaria control and prevention programs. As a means of facing the challenges of searching for new anti-malarial agents, the current study focused on evaluation of anti-malarial activity of extract of leaves of S.abyssinica. Methods: Chloroquine-sensitive rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei (ANKA strain) was used to infect the male Swiss Albino mice( age 6–8 weeks and weight of rages from 24-30 g ) in 4-day suppressive and prophylactic model. The crude hydromethanolic extract and solvent fractions of leaves of S.abyssinica at100mg, 200, and 400 mg/kg doses was administered to a group of five mice. level of parasitaemia, packed cell volume , mean survival time, and body weight were determined and the significance of the differences between mean values of the five groups and within groups was analysed by one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey‘s ,and paired samples t test respectively . Results: the hydro methanolic extract and the hexane , chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions at 400mg/kg dose shown 45.60% , 42.50%, 55.80% and 51.44% (<0.001) significant difference parasite chemo suppressive activities respectively as compared to negative control in chemosupresive model. In chemoprophylactic models, at 400 doses of hydro methanolic extract and the chloroform fraction, suppressed the level of parasitaemia significantly (p < 0.001) compared to the vehicle-treated groups, 54.41%, and 57.59% %, suppression respectively and revealed positive effect on mean servival time, PCV, weight and temperature drop due to parasite infection in both models. Conclusions: The results collectively indicate that the plant has a promising antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium berghei, which upholds the earlier with the invitro antimalaria test results and traditional claims.