Evaluation of antiplasmodial potential of Beta vulgaris juice in Plasmodium berghei infected mice

Abstract

The parasite, Plasmodium sp. is responsible for Malaria, which kills around half a million people annually and its management relies on efforts of cooperation between health care personnel and the public sector. The effect of Beta vulgaris fresh juice on mice infected by the chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei berghei through in vivo trials was studied in King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The EDs were estimated for the fresh juice activity and the secondary screening. There were significant differences in the parasitemia level (p = 0.0) between the negative control group and mice treated by B. vulgaris fresh juice and Chloroquine. The mean parasitemia level in infected untreated mice or B. vulgaris fresh juice was significantly differentiated at concentrations ranging from 10% − 80% (p = 0.0). ED50 and ED90 B. vulgaris fresh juice are estimated to be 24.5 (17.8–33.8) and 40.7 (24–68.8) at 5% confidence limits. This is optimistic and stimulates additional investigation on B. vulgaris fresh juice in vitro trials and further extraction of the active components of B. vulgaris against malaria.

Keywords

• Plasmodium berghei
• Beta vulgaris
• Chloroquine
• Herbal medicine
• Antimalaria