title: Effect of crude leaf extract of Osyris quadripartita on Plasmodium berghei in Swiss albino mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Continuous emergence of multi-drug-resistant malaria parasites and their rapid spread across the globe warrant urgent search for new anti-malarial chemotherapeutics. Traditional medicinal plants have been the main sources for screening active phytochemicals against malaria. Accordingly, this study was aimed at evaluating the anti-malarial activity of Osyris quadripartita Salzm. Ex Decne., a plant which is used for traditional malaria treatment by local people in different parts of Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aqueous, chloroform and methanol crude leaf extracts of the plant have been prepared and tested for acute toxicity and anti-malarial efficacy in Plasmodium berghei (ANKA strain)-infected Swiss albino mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At three oral doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg the plant material was safe, chemosuppressive and thus prevented body weight loss, hematological abnormalities and increased mice mean survival time compared to the negative control. The most efficacious extract was that of chloroform which prolonged mean mouse survival past day 11 of infection with all the mice in this group having the highest parasitemia suppression rate (41.3%, at 600 mg/kg) although parasite clearance was not achieved compared to the standard drug (chloroquine) against the parasite.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding supports the traditional use of the plant for the treatment of malaria. However, further confirmatory studies followed by isolation and characterization of the active anti-malarial compound (s) of the plant that is/are responsible for the observed parasite suppression is needed before it is recommended for malaria drug search and discovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. girmasen21@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Senait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Girma
authors.affiliation: Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. mirutseg@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mirutse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giday
authors.affiliation: Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. berhanue@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Berhanu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erko
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. binmamo@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hassen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mamo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005002:Ethiopia; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects*; D029630:Santalaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts