Antimalarial potency of the leaf extract of Aspilia africana (Pers.) C.D. Adams

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antimalarial activity of ethanol extract of Aspilia africana (A. africana) leaf. METHODS: The ethanol extract of A. africana leaf (100-400 mg/kg) was screened for blood schizonticidal effect against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) in mice both in early and established models of antimalarial studies. RESULTS: The leaf extract exhibited significant (P<0.05) antiplasmodial activity in 4-day early infection and in established infection tests with a considerable mean survival time comparable to that of standard drug, chloroquine (10 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that ethanol extract of A. africana leaf possesses potent antiplasmodial activity which justify the use in ethnomedicine and can be developed in malaria therapy.