Antimalarial potential of kolaviron, a biflavonoid from Garcinia kola seeds, against Plasmodium berghei infection in Swiss albino mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the antimalarial potential of kolaviron (KV), a biflavonoid fraction from Garcinia kola seeds, against Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) infection in Swiss albino mice.


METHODS
The study consists of seven groups of ten mice each. Groups I, II and III were normal mice that received corn oil, KV1 and chloroquine (CQ), respectively. Groups IV, V, VI and VII were infected mice that received corn oil, CQ, KV1 and KV2, respectively. CQ, KV1 and KV2 were given at 10-, 100- and 200-mg/kg daily, respectively for three consecutive days.


RESULTS
Administration of KV1 and KV2 significantly (P<0.05) suppressed P. berghei-infection in the mice by 85% and 90%, respectively, while CQ produced 87% suppression relative to untreated infected group after the fifth day of treatment. Also, KV2 significantly (P<0.05) increased the mean survival time of the infected mice by 175%. The biflavonoid prevented a drastic reduction in PCV from day 4 of treatment, indicating its efficacy in ameliorating anaemia. Significant (P<0.05) oxidative stress assessed by the elevation of serum and hepatic malondialdehydewere observed in untreated P. berghei-infected mice. Specifically, serum and hepatic malondialdehyde levels increased by 93% and 78%, respectively in the untreated infected mice. Furthermore, antioxidant indices, viz; superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-s-transferase, gluathione peroxidase and reduced gluathione decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the tissues of untreated P. berghei-infected mice. KV significantly (P<0.05) ameliorated the P. berghei-induced decrease in antioxidant status of the infected mice.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that kolaviron, especially at 200 mg/kg, has high antimalarial activities in P. berghei-infected mice, in addition to its known antioxidant properties.
Biochemistry Department, University of Ibadan, University way, Oyo-Ojoo, Road, Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo/South-West 20005, Nigeria. Electronic address: aoadaramoye@yahoo.com.
Adaramoye
A
Oluwatosin
Pharmacology Department, University of Ibadan, University way, Oyo-Ojoo, Road, Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo/South-West 20005, Nigeria.
Akinpelu
A
Tolulope
Biochemistry Department, University of Ibadan, University way, Oyo-Ojoo, Road, Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo/South-West 20005, Nigeria.
Kosoko
K
Ayokulehin
Pharmacology Department, University of Ibadan, University way, Oyo-Ojoo, Road, Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo/South-West 20005, Nigeria.
Okorie
O
Patricia
Medical Microbiology Department, University of Ibadan, University way, Oyo-Ojoo, Road, Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo/South-West 20005, Nigeria.
Kehinde
K
Aderemi
Pharmacology Department, University of Ibadan, University way, Oyo-Ojoo, Road, Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo/South-West 20005, Nigeria.
Falade
F
Catherine
Pharmacology and IAMRAT Department, University of Ibadan, University way, Oyo-Ojoo, Road, Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo/South-West 20005, Nigeria.
Ademowo
A
Olusegun
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029763:Garcinia kola / Q000737:chemistry*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
D000962:Antimalarials; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002738:Chloroquine; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C045492:kolaviron
Antimalaria; Antioxidant; Biflavonoid; Kolaviron; Plasmodium berghei