title: Antiplasmodial and antiulcer activities of Melanthera scadens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antimalarial and antiulcerogenic activities of leaf extract and fractions of Melanthera scandens (M. scandens).
  
  
  METHODS
  The crude leaf extract (37-111 mg/kg) and fractions (chloroform, ethylacetate and methanol; 78 mg/kg) of M. scadens were investigated for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei infections in mice and for antiulcer activity against experimentally-induced ulcers. The antimalarial activity during early and established infections as well as prophylactic was investigated. Artesunate (5 mg/kg) and pyrimethamine (1.2 mg/kg) were used as positive controls. Thin films made from tail blood of each mouse were used to assess the level of parasitaemia of the mice. Antiulcer activity of the crude extract was also evaluated against indomethacin, ethanol and histamine induced ulcers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract and its fractions dose-dependently reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei infection in prophylactic, suppressive and curative models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (P<0.001). They also improved the mean survival time (MST) from 9.28 to 17.73 days as compared with the control (P<0.01-0.001). The activities of extract/fractions were incomparable to that of the standard drugs i.e. artesunate and pyrimethamine. On experimentally-induced ulcers, the extract inhibited indomethacin, ethanol and histamine induced ulcers. These inhibitions were statistically significant (P<0.001) and in a dose-dependent fashion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antiplasmodial and antiulcerogenic effects of this plant may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Jude E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Okokon
authors.forename: Ette O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Etebong
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Udobang
authors.forename: Jackson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Obot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antimalarial activity; Antiplasmodial activity; Antiulcer activity; Antiulcerogenic activity; Artesunate; Chemical constituent; Indomethacin; Melanthera scadens; Parasitaemia; Plasmodium berghei; Pyrimethamine