Phyto suppression of Plasmodium berghei Multiplication by Nauclea latifolia improves the Indices of Pancreatic Beta Cell Function and Anaemia in Experimental Mice.
BACKGROUND
Malaria remains one of the major causes of childhood mortality in many parts of the world, especially in the sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Increasing chemotherapeutic failure and side effects of available antimalarial drugs have promoted the use of natural herbs for the treatment of malaria in Nigerian communities.


OBJECTIVE
To study the phytosuppression of P berghei by Nauclea latifolia and its effects on the indices of anaemia and pancreatic beta cell function in experimental mice.


METHODS
Fifty mice were divided into 10 groups (n=5) and used for the study. Group 1 (control) were uninfected but given placebo. Group 2 were infected with P berghei and treated with placebo. Groups 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 received N. latifolia treatment, while Groups 6 and 7 received standard chloroquine treatment. Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 were however infected with the malarial parasite. Blood samples were collected by heart puncture and prepared for the estimation of haemoglobin, insulin and glucose. The pancreatic beta cell function (HOMA-beta) was determined using the fasting serum insulin and glucose levels as documented.


RESULTS
P. berghei malaria infection caused a significant reduction in haemoglobin that led to anaemia in the mice, There were elevated HOMA-beta) in the parasitized and chloroquine treated groups, suggesting possible pancreatic beta cell dysfunction. Treatment with N. latifolia showed parasitaemia suppression and' improved pancreatic beta cell function and haemoglobin concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
N. latifolia contains bioactive phytochemicals that suppresses malaria parasite multiplication and improves pancreatic beta cell function.
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D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects*; D019666:Rubiaceae
D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts