Abstract

EVALUATION OF IN VIVO ANTIPLASMODIAL EFFICACY OF ETHANOL LEAF AND ROOT EXTRACTS OF ALCHORNEA CORDIFOLIA

Ubulom Peace M. E.*, Alozie Mfon F. and Umoinyang Aniekan

Abstract

Aim of study: Alchornea cordifolia is a medicinal plant used by traditional healers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, for the treatment of various ailments including fevers. This study was aimed at evaluating the in vivo antiplasmodial potentials of the ethanol leaf and root extracts of A. cordifolia in Plasmodium berghei berghei infected Swiss albino mice. Methods: Antiplasmodial effect of oral administrations of the leaf (100, 200 and 300mg/kg/day) and root (50, 100 and 150mg/kg/day) extracts were investigated in the 4-day, repository and curative tests. Pyrimethamine (1.2mg/kg) and artesunate (5mg/kg) were used as standard drugs, while 0.2ml/kg/day of distilled water served as the control. Results: Both the leaf and root extracts exhibited significant (p

Keywords: Alchornea cordifolia, antiplasmodial, Plasmodium berghei berghei.