Combination Therapy of Methanolic Leaf Extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Terminalia avicennioides on Malaria Parasite Count and Its Effect on Some Biochemical Parameters in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Background: The introduction of Artemisinin Combination Therapy by WHO was done to prevent drug resistance to malaria. Unfortunately, these drugs are unaffordable to most of the people living in malaria endemic areas; therefore the use of medicinal plants is common among the people living in malaria endemic areas. Among the medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria are Anogeissus leiocarpusand Terminalia avicennioides.

Aim: This work studied the combination therapy of methanolic leaf extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus andTerminalia avicennioides on parasitemia count and its effects on the liver function, body weight and lipid profiles in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.

Methodology: Mice used for this study were divided into six groups. The first group was neither infected with Plasmodium berghei nor treated with any drugs (normal control). The second group was infected with Plasmodium berghei but not treated (negative control), the third group was infected and treated with artemether-lumefantrine at 5 mg/kg body weight (positive control). The fourth, fifth and sixth groups were infected and treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of combined methanolic leaf extracts of A.leiocarpus and T. avicennioides respectively. The parasitemia was monitored for four days and parasite was counted using microscope. All biochemical parameters were determined.

Results: There was significant increase (P<0.05) in the parasite density in negative group when compared with other groups. Parasitaemia counts were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in the mice treated with 400 mg/kgbdwt when compared with other infected groups. HDL and body weight of experimental animal used, were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the group treated with 100 mg/kgbdwt when compared with the group treated with 400 mg/kg, while liver enzymes activities were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the group treated with 400 mg/kg.

Conclusion: Although the antiplasmodial activity of combined methanolic leaf extracts of A. leiocarpus andT. avicennioides was higher at 400 mg/kg body weight but its effect on liver function, body weight and lipid profile was best at 100 mg/kgbdwt.