Scientific African (Jul 2021)
Flavonoid-rich extract of Buchholzia coriacea Engl. seeds reverses Plasmodium berghei-modified haematological and biochemical status in mice
Abstract
Background: Malaria still remains a serious global public health challenge and the growing resistance of Plasmodium species to the existing antimalarial drugs is aggravating the burden. Considering the growing knowledge of the contribution of dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and hepatic and kidney damages, in addition to the well-known anaemia and hypoglycemia in pathogenesis of malaria complication, a good antimalarial candidate should not only kill malaria parasite but also normalize the associated haematological and biochemical modifications. Buchholzia coriacea (Capparaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used in treating malaria whose antimalarial activity has been investigated. Aim: to evaluate the ameliorative effects of flavonoid-rich extract of B. coriacea seeds (FEBCS) on modifications in haematological and biochemical status induced by malaria in mice. Materials and methods: FEBCS was prepared and its effects on malaria parasitemia, haematological (packed cell volume, total erythrocyte and leucocyte counts and haemoglobin concentration) and biochemical (liver, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant and lipid profile) status of P. berghei Anka-65-infected mice were evaluated using established protocols. In addition, the phytochemicals in FEBCS as well as its acute toxicity status were investigated. A total of sixty inbred Swiss albino mice (7 weeks, body weight of 26 ± 5 g) were used for this study (30 were used for acute toxicity study while the rest for antimalarial study) and were maintained on commercial rodent diet and water ad libitum in our animal laboratory. Results: Upon treatment with combisunate (140 mg/kg/ b.w.) and FEBCS (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg/d body) for four consecutive days (4-day suppressive assay), there were significant reductions in parasitemia levels compared with baseline. When the parasitemia levels of mice post-treatment and pre-treatment were compared, it was observed that FEBCS exhibited a dose-dependent chemosuppression which were however, lower compared to that by combisunate. Compared to the malaria control, it was observed that FEBCS improved the status indicators of haematology and biochemistry to near normal levels. There was no significant morphological and behavioural sign of toxicity, indicating that FEBCS was tolerable up to 5000 mg/kg b.w. Conclusion: These findings suggest that FEBCS possesses antimalarial activity, and normalized haematological and biochemical alterations triggered by malaria. This finding necessitates the isolation and characterization of the active principles in FEBCS which could serve as lead compounds for the development of novel antimalarial agents.
