In vivo antiplasmodial activities of ethanolic extract and fractions of Eleucine indica.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the in vivo antiplasmodial activities of the extract and fractions (n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol, aqueous) of the whole plant in Plasmodium berghei berghei infected mice.


METHODS
Oral administrations of the extract (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg) of Eleucine indica and fractions (400 mg/kg) were screened in the 4-day, repository and curative tests. Chloroquine (5 mg/kg), pyrimethamine (1.2 mg/kg) and artesunate (5 mg/kg) were used as controls.


RESULTS
The extract showed significant (P< 0.05-0.001) dose-dependent, antiplasmodial activity in the 4-day, repository and curative tests and increased the survival times of the infected mice. All the fractions exhibited significant antiplasmodial activity with the highest being ethylacetate fraction.


CONCLUSIONS
Eleucine indica extract and fractions possess antimalarial activity which confirms the ethnobotanical use of this plant as a malarial remedy and opens a new highway to further investigate its potentials in the on-going fight against malaria.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Nigeria. ettebong@yahoo.com
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Ettebong
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Nwafor
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Okokon
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D031748:Eleusine; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects*
D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol