IN VIVO ANTIMALARIAL ACTIVITIES OF FRACTIONATED EXTRACTS OF Asparagus africanus IN MICE INFECTED WITH Plasmodium Berghei

Abstract

This study was carried out to validate the traditional usage of Asparagus africanus for treating malaria in the traditional health care system of Ethiopia. The in vivo antimalarial activity of chloroform, butanol and aqueous fractionates (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) of Asparagus africanus roots against a chloroquine (CQ) sensitive strain of Plasmodium berghei ANKA was assessed using the 4-day suppressive test procedure. The oral administration of the three fractions showed significant (P<0.05) parasitaemia suppression at all dose levels in dose related manner compared with the negative control. The butanol fraction showed the highest (85.94%) parasitaemia suppression at dose of 300 mg/kg/day while the aqueous residue induced parasitaemia suppression of 66.79% at the same dose. The chloroform fraction also showed significant parasitaemia suppression at all orally administered dose levels. The butanol fraction significantly prolonged (P<0.05) the survival times of P. berghei infected mice at the highest dose. The chloroform fraction and the aqueous residue at all doses significantly prevented (P<0.05) weight loss of infected mice that is commonly observed with increasing parasitaemia, whereas the highest dose (300mg/kg/day) of the butanol fraction failed to prevent weight loss. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the root powder of the plant indicated the presence of saponins, polyphenols, tannins and phytosteroids. The results of this study confirm the traditional usage of the plant for treatment of malaria. However, the active responsible principles are yet to be identified, which need further studies to elucidate the antimalarial mechanism of their action.