Dagninet Derebe1, Muluken Wubetu2, Amare Alamirew3. 1. Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. 2. Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia. 3. Department of Community Health, ALKAN Health Science, Business and Technology College, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Due to resistance of parasites, costs, and safety issues with currently available drugs, there is a need to discover new antimalarials. Medicinal plants are one of the most important sources of new drugs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimalarial activity of a methanolic root extract of Dorstenia barnimiana in Swiss albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. METHODS: Four-day suppressive, curative, and prophylactic tests were performed on mice infected with P. berghei to evaluate the antimalarial activity of a methanolic root extract of the plant. Parasitemia suppression, survival time, body-weight change, rectal temperature change, and packed-cell volume were used to evaluate the activity of the extract. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test for comparisons between and within groups, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The D. barnimiana root extract showed significant (P<0.01) parasitemia-suppressive activities in all models compared to the negative control. The extract increased mean survival time and prevented weight loss, reduction in temperature, and anemia significantly in all tested doses in 4-day suppressive and curative tests. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, D. barnimiana root has promising antimalarial activity and can considered a potential source to develop new agents.
BACKGROUND: Due to resistance of parasites, costs, and safety issues with currently available drugs, there is a need to discover new antimalarials. Medicinal plants are one of the most important sources of new drugs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimalarial activity of a methanolic root extract of Dorstenia barnimiana in Swiss albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. METHODS: Four-day suppressive, curative, and prophylactic tests were performed on mice infected with P. berghei to evaluate the antimalarial activity of a methanolic root extract of the plant. Parasitemia suppression, survival time, body-weight change, rectal temperature change, and packed-cell volume were used to evaluate the activity of the extract. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test for comparisons between and within groups, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The D. barnimiana root extract showed significant (P<0.01) parasitemia-suppressive activities in all models compared to the negative control. The extract increased mean survival time and prevented weight loss, reduction in temperature, and anemia significantly in all tested doses in 4-day suppressive and curative tests. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, D. barnimiana root has promising antimalarial activity and can considered a potential source to develop new agents.
Authors: Amey Libman; Hongjie Zhang; Cuiying Ma; Bounhong Southavong; Kongmany Sydara; Somsanith Bouamanivong; Ghee T Tan; Harry H S Fong; D Doel Soejarto Journal: Asian J Tradit Med Date: 2008
Authors: Alaíde B Oliveira; Maria Fâni Dolabela; Fernão C Braga; Rose L R P Jácome; Fernando P Varotti; Marinete M Póvoa Journal: An Acad Bras Cienc Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 1.753