Changes Associated with Treatment of Plasmodium berghei Infected Mice with Momordica charantia, Xylopia aethiopica and Entandrophragma angolense Leaf Extract

Aim: Leaves of plants have been useful in the treatment of various diseases and infections. The study aims at determining the nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and hematological effect of Momordica charantia, Xylopia aethiopica, and Entandrophragma angolense on the Plasmodium berghei infected mice.

Study Design: The plants’ leaves were air-dried and extracted. Forty-two Swiss male mice, 18 to 25 g, were grouped into six of seven mice each. Group I was uninfected but were administered with normal saline for four days, Group II to VI were all infected with P. berghei and administered with normal saline, 300 mg/b.w. of M. charantia leaf extract, 300 mg/b.w. of E. angolense leaf extract, 300 mg/b.w. of X. aethiopica leaf extract and 40 mg/b.w. of chloroquine injection for four days, respectively.

Results: The treatment groups showed a lower level of toxicity when compared with chloroquine treatment. X. aethiopica has the greatest positive impact on the PCV level of the experimental animals of its treated group compared with other groups.

Conclusion: Our findings confirmed the antimalarial potential of X. aethiopica and thus can be used to treat malaria without anemia as a side effect.