Lecaniodiscus cupanioides leaf extract attenuates Plasmodium berghei-induced malaria infection in albino mice via modulation of serum biochemical and hematological markers

Abstract

Background

Malaria has been among the predominant reasons for hospitalization and death in numerous tropical and/or subtropical African territories due to treatment failure resulting from the development of drug-resistant species of Plasmodium falciparum, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic approaches.

Objective

The intent of this research was to explore the antiplasmodial efficacy of ethanol extract of the leaf of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei having altered biochemical and/or hematological markers.

Method

An acute toxicity study (LD50) of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides leaf extracted with ethanol was conducted in 12 mice using Lorke’s methodology. Screening for phytochemicals and HPLC study of the leaf extract were also conducted. The leaf extract’s in-vivo antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei (NK65) strain was tested through a 4-day suppressive study, prophylactic test and curative test at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg dosages.

Following a 7-day treatment period, five mice from the curative group were sacrificed under light ether, and their serum was utilized to evaluate liver enzymes, hematological markers, and inflammatory biomarkers associated with malaria severity.

Results

No deaths were observed at the maximum extract dose of 5000 mg/kg. Preliminary phytochemical screening and HPLC study of the leaf extract indicated the availability of biological constituents of pharmacological importance. The extract at all tested doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) dose-dependent chemosuppressive effect, with percentage (%) chemosuppression of 73.79 % at 200 mg/kg, 81.55 % at 400 mg/kg and notable efficacy (84.65 %) at the 800 mg/kg dose in the Peters 4-day suppressive test. A significant (P ≤ 0.05) dose-dependent reduction in the parasitaemia levels of the treated mice, with the 800 mg/kg dose displaying the highest antimalarial activity was produced in the curative study. The extract displayed dose-dependent prophylactic activity against the P. berghei-induced parasitaemia in the mice, making 45.22 % and 61.34 % at 200 and 400 mg/kg, and the 800 mg/kg dose showing a highly significant effect (75.59 %). The group treated with chloroquine exhibited superior percentage (%) chemosuppression of 100 % in the suppressive, curative and prophylactic studies compared to the groups treated with Lecaniodiscus cupanioides extract. For every administered dose, the extract successfully normalized aberrations in hematological markers, reduced elevated liver enzymes and mitigated inflammatory biomarkers induced by an infection with Plasmodium berghei in the mice.

Conclusion

Results of this study validated the traditional usage of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides in the treatment of malaria by demonstrating the plant's substantial antimalarial effectiveness. However, further research into in-vitro antimalarial activity of the leaf extract against Plasmodium falciparum and the mechanism by which the leaf extract elicited its antiplasmodial activity are required.