In Vivo Anti-Malarial Activity of the Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Asparagus Africanus, Withania Somnifera and Laganaria Vulgaris in Mice
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Date
2005-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Malaria is a major public health problem in the world in general and developing world in
particular. It is known to cause 1-2 million deaths per year, with an annual incidence of 300-
500 million clinically manifested cases and with more than 2 billion people at risk of
infection. It is becoming more difficult to prevent and to treat malaria due to the increasing
resistance of the transmitting mosquito and of the malaria parasite to the insecticides and
drugs that have been commonly used. The importance of malaria as a major public health and
development problem has been reviewed on a number of occasions in Ethiopia. This study
aims at investigating the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the known traditionally used herbal
drugs. A rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei, maintained in EHNRI laboratory, was
inoculated into young male albino mice. Male mice were infected with 1x107 parasites
intraperitonially. The extracts were administered by intra gastric tube daily for four
consecutive days starting from the day of parasite inoculation. Control groups received the
same amount of solvent (vehicle) used to suspend each dose of the herbal drug and
Chloroquine was used as a standard drug given by the same route. The results showed that
Asparagus africanus Lam. (Liliaceae) root and areal part and Withania somnifera (L) Dunal
(Solanaceae) leaf and root bark are effective in P.bergei malaria, which is inconformity to the
claim that they have therapeutic values in human malaria in traditional medicine. This study
could partly confirm the claim, facilitate in initiating further in-depth investigation using
different experient model.
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Key words: Asparagus africana Lam., Withania somnifera (L) Dunal, Plasomodium berghei,
acute toxicity, in vivo, antimalarial activity,
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Keywords
Asparagus africana Lam.;Withania somnifera (L) Dunal; Plasomodium berghei;acute toxicity; In vivo, antimalarial activity