Phytochemical Constituents, Antimalarial Efficacy, and Protective Effect of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Aqueous Leaf Extract in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

Abstract

This study examined the bioactive components of <i>Eucalyptus camaldulensis</i> aqueous leaf extracts and their protective effects on liver and renal function in a <i>Plasmodium berghei</i>-induced albino mouse model of malarial infection. The results showed that <i>E. camaldulensis</i> extracts are rich in phytochemicals, including flavonoids, phenols, saponin, terpenes, and tannin. Four days after infection with malaria, elevated parasitemia levels in untreated control mice dropped by 4.57%. Administration of <i>E. camaldulensis</i> extracts at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg significantly decreased parasitemia levels by 17.39, 61.88, and 60.53%, respectively (all <i>P</i><0.05), relative to untreated control mice; however, standard antimalarial drugs were more efficacious and reduced parasitemia by 86.73%. Treatment with both <i>E. camaldulensis</i> extracts (100∼300 mg/kg) and standard antimalarial drugs significantly decreased malarial-induced physiological imbalances in liver and renal biomarkers, and serum electrolytes in malaria-infected mice compared with controls (<i>P</i><0.05). The therapeutic effect of <i>E. camaldulensis</i> was greatest at a dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg. These findings indicate that <i>E. camaldulensis</i> aqueous leaf extracts could protect against malarial-induced aberrations in liver and renal function whilst exhibiting anti-malarial effects, and could explain its use as an antimalarial remedy in traditional medicine.