George N Anosa1, Rita I Udegbunam2, Josephine O Okoro3, Obianuju N Okoroafor4. 1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. Electronic address: georgeanosa@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Veterinary Surgery, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. 3. Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. 4. Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Enantia polycarpa (PC) Engl. Et Diels (Annonaceae) is used in traditional medicine as an antimalarial remedy in Southern Nigeria. AIM OF THE STUDY: The antimalarial activities of ethanolic stem bark extracts of Enantia polycarpa was studied in vivo, in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanolic stem bark extract of Enantia polycarpa was administered at doses ranging from 200 to 600 mg/kg/day to Plasmodium berghei infected mice in both early and established models of antiplasmodial studies. RESULTS: The extract of Enantia polycarpa exhibited promising antimalarial activity against both early and established infections. At a dose of 600 mg/kg the extract achieved a 75.8% and 72% chemosuppression of parasitaemia in the study of acute and established infections, respectively. The extract also prolonged mean survival time of Plasmodium berghei infected mice during the study of established infection. The mean survival time of mice administered Enantia polycarpa extract at 600 mg/kg/day (27 days) was significantly longer than infected/untreated control (12 days). For the acute toxicity study the extract had an intraperitoneal LD50 of 186 mg/kg but caused no mortality when administered orally at doses as high as 2,000 and 4,000 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the results indicate that Enantia polycarpa is safe when administered orally and possesses promising antimalarial activity, thus supporting its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Enantia polycarpa (PC) Engl. Et Diels (Annonaceae) is used in traditional medicine as an antimalarial remedy in Southern Nigeria. AIM OF THE STUDY: The antimalarial activities of ethanolic stem bark extracts of Enantia polycarpa was studied in vivo, in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanolic stem bark extract of Enantia polycarpa was administered at doses ranging from 200 to 600 mg/kg/day to Plasmodium berghei infected mice in both early and established models of antiplasmodial studies. RESULTS: The extract of Enantia polycarpa exhibited promising antimalarial activity against both early and established infections. At a dose of 600 mg/kg the extract achieved a 75.8% and 72% chemosuppression of parasitaemia in the study of acute and established infections, respectively. The extract also prolonged mean survival time of Plasmodium berghei infected mice during the study of established infection. The mean survival time of mice administered Enantia polycarpa extract at 600 mg/kg/day (27 days) was significantly longer than infected/untreated control (12 days). For the acute toxicity study the extract had an intraperitoneal LD50 of 186 mg/kg but caused no mortality when administered orally at doses as high as 2,000 and 4,000 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the results indicate that Enantia polycarpa is safe when administered orally and possesses promising antimalarial activity, thus supporting its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria.