PROFILING OF PHYLLANTHUS AMARUS PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND EVALUATION OF ASSOCIATED ANTIMALARIAL ACTIVITY AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL IN EXPERIMENTAL MICE

Abstract

The failing curative ability of antimalarials has prompted an open discussion for the use of antioxidants in combination with antimalarials for effective chemotherapy. This study profiled the phytochemical constituents of Phyllanthus amarus and evaluated their antimalarial and antioxidant activities. Phytochemical screening, antimalarial and acute oral toxicity were determined according to standard procedures. Blood antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring antioxidant enzymes and nitric oxide (NO), concentrations of malarial infected mice treated with P. amarus phytochemicals. Alkaloids, the most abundant phytochemical, demonstrated the highest malarial parasite chemosuppression and greatly improved NO concentration in infected mice. However, flavonoid extract demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential with most significant impact on catalase and malondialdehyde activity. Alkaloid may function as antimalarial agent by inhibiting haem polymerization to hemozoin as judged by its increased effect on NO concentration which bears an reverse relationship with hemozoin.