Infection and Drug Resistance (Jul 2021)
Evaluation of Antiplasmodial Activity of Hydroalcoholic Crude Extract and Solvent Fractions of Zehneria scabra Roots Against Plasmodium berghei in Swiss Albino Mice
Abstract
Dejen Nureye,1 Eyob Tekalign,2 Nebeyi Fisseha,1 Tarekegn Tesfaye,1 Workineh Woldeselassie Hammeso1 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Southwest Ethiopia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Southwest EthiopiaCorrespondence: Workineh Woldeselassie Hammeso Email [email protected]: Since drug resistance makes controlling malaria parasites a major challenge, these pioneering researchers explore and discover new novel drugs from a variety of sources. As a result, this study aimed to assess the anti-plasmodial activity of hydroalcoholic crude extract and solvent fractions of Zehneria scabra roots in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.Methods: The antimalarial activity and safety profile of Zehneria scabra extracts were tested in a mouse model using four-day suppressive, prophylactic, and rane’s tests against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei. Mice were divided into five groups at random: group I received distilled water (10 mL/kg), group II, III, and IV received 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg of the extract, respectively, and group V received chloroquine (25 mg/kg). The antimalarial activity of the extract was determined using parasitemia levels, survival time, rectal temperature, and weight variation.Results: At all dose levels, the crude extract and solvent fractions of Zehneria scabra showed significant (p< 0.05 to p< 0.001) chemosuppression, with the crude extract and butanol fraction showing the highest chemosuppression (73.09% and 74.09%, respectively). Apart from suppressing parasitemia, the extract also increased survival time and secured packed cell volume reduction substantially (p< 0.05 to p< 0.001), while the crude extract had no significant impact on body weight or rectal temperature reduction in four-day suppressive and prophylactic models.Conclusion: The result designated that Zehneria scabra is endowed with significant antimalarial activity. These results thus support the traditional use of Zehneria scabra, for the treatment of malaria.Keywords: malaria, Plasmodium berghei, Zehneria scabra, Swiss albino mice
