Suppressive and Prophylaxis Activities of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Musa paradisiaca on Liver Antioxidant Profile of Plasmodium berghei Infected Mice

This study evaluated the in vivo Prophylactic and Suppressive antimalarial activities of a locally formulated herbal antimalarial therapy, dry plantain leaf extract (Musa paradisiaca) on liver antioxidant profile of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Prophylactic assessment involved six groups (control, P. berghei infected, P. berghei infected and artesunate treated, P. berghei infected and oral treatment with 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg Musa paradisiaca leaf extract) using Prophylactic model. Another six groups following the same order was used for suppressive assessment using suppressive model. The rats were sacrificed on the 10th day, and blood samples collected through cardiac puncture for Catalase, Glutathione Peroxidase, Glutathione and Malondialdehyde. Blood smears was evaluated microscopically for parasitaemia. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Catalase (umol/ml/mins) showed considerable variation in the control, P. berghei infected, and treatment groups; 24.62 ± 0.99, 10.04 ± 0.50, 23.97 ± 0.00 suppressive, and prophylaxis assessments respectively. The Glutathione Peroxidase (u/l) also showed significant decrease in the P. berghei infected group (205.22 ± 4.61) when compared with control 332.34 ± 0.64, and treatment groups 317.34 ± 0.00, 319.46 ± 0.64 and 317.76 ± 0.15 and 301.59 ± 0.00, 305.66 ± 1.36 and 309.45 ± 0.00 respectively (p < 0.05). Malondialdehye in the P. berghei infected group was increased 61.65 ± 1.72 when compared with the control and other treatment groups (p < 0.05). Protein (g/dl) decreased in the P. berghei infected group (10.22 ± 0.00) when compared to control and treatment groups (p < 0.05). The study showed that P. berghei elevated liver oxidation parameters while Musa paradisiaca leaf increased some antioxidants parameters, suggesting prophylasis and suppressive properties.