Effect of Solanum nudum extracts on the liver of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.

The plant Solanum nudum has been used by the community of Tumaco (Nariño, Colombia) as a cure for malaria. Our group has confirmed the in vitro antimalarial activity against the strain of Plasmodium falciparum FCB-2. During our in vivo studies on the therapeutic effect of Solanum nudum extracts on mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, we observed yellowish tint in the palms of mice treated with the aqueous extract via i.p. at a concentration of 2.4% w/vol. This finding suggested the need to carry out a histology study of the liver. Plasmodium berghei infection produces liver changes such as the deposit of pigment in sinusoids, leucocytes infiltration, esteatosis and necrosis of hepatocytes. These changes were also observed when the mice were treated with methane and hexane extracts from Solanum nudum; however necrosis of hepatocytes in mice infected with malaria decreased 47-65% when they were administered either with aqueous extract, or tumacoside A and degraded diosgenone, compounds from methane and hexane extracts of Solanum nudum respectively.