Anti-Oxidant Potential and Antimalarial Effects of (Acanthaceae) Against : Evidence for in vivo Antimalarial Activity.

BACKGROUND

Malaria is among the most devastating and widespread tropical parasitic diseases which is more prevalent in developing countries. (Acanthaceae) leaves are traditionally used for the treatment of malaria in Ethiopia. This study aimed to investigate the in vivo antimalarial and in vitro antioxidant activity of the leaves extract of

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The leaves part of were extracted using 80% methanol. The antioxidant effect of extract was evaluated by using (DPPH) diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay model. To evaluate the antimalarial effect of the extract, ANKA strain (chloroquine sensitive) was used to infect the mice in three different experimental protocol: suppressive, curative, and prophylactic test models.

RESULTS

The leaves extract of significantly (<0.05-0.0001) suppressed the parasitemia in all experimental protocol. The extract exhibited a chemosupression of 27.64%, 33.67% and 49.25% in 4-day suppressive test; 33.76%, 39.24% and 53.59% in curative test, and 25%, 32.84% and 50% in prophylactic tests at dose of 100, 200, and 400mg/kg, respectively. The extract also extended the mean survival time, prevented the bodyweight loss and body temperature drop, and packed cell volume significantly (<0.05) as compared to the negative control. Dose-dependent antioxidant activity was shown by the leaf extract of with an IC value of 9.37µg/mL.

CONCLUSION

The current finding showed that the leaves extract of has revealed promising antimalarial effects. Thus, this finding supports the traditional use of for the treatment of malaria.