title: In vivo anti-plasmodial activities and toxic impacts of lime extract of a combination of Picralima nitida, Alstonia boonei and Gongronema latifolium in mice infected with Chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lime extracts of powdered combination of seeds of Picralima nitida, stem bark of Alstonia boonei and leaves of Gongronema latifolium is a common remedy used in the treatment of malaria in South Western Nigeria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the antiplasmodial activities of the combined herbal extracts and its impact on the haematological, hepatological and renological parameters in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 4-day suppressive and curative tests were used to assess the antiplasmodial activities of the extract in mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei at concentration of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg body weight. The haematological parameters including red blood cells, white blood cells, packed cell volume and haemoglobin count were analysed with an auto analyser. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined, while urea, protein and creatinine were analysed by standard procedural methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 4-day suppressive test revealed that the test extract achieved percentage suppression of 39.0%, 41.6% and 54.68% for the 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg concentration respectively. Additionally, the curative test achieved a high percentage suppression of 80.97%, 83.84% and 86.16% at the 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg concentration respectively. The extracts did not induce significant change on haematological parameters (P>0.05), while significant elevation in the values of the ALT and AST (P<0.05) was observed and elevation of creatinine (P<0.05) at 800mg/kg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results support the traditional use of the herbal combination in the treatment of malaria, however the liver cells were impacted by the extracts in bioassay conducted with mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Idowu
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
authors.forename: Henry Cn
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ajaegbu
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ahmed I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Omotayo
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research.
authors.forename: Oluwagbemiga O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Aina
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olubunmi A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Otubanjo
mesh_terms: D031051:Alstonia / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D002738:Chloroquine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D029582:Meliaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D009549:Nigeria; D010087:Oxides; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010087:Oxides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002738:Chloroquine; C016538:lime
keywords: Alstonia boonei; Gongronema latifolium; In vivo anti-plasmodial lime extract; Picralima nitida; mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive plasmodium berghei