Antiplasmodial Activity of Methanolic Stem Bark Extract of Anthocleista grandiflora in Mice
Odeghe Othuke B; Uwakwe A, A; Monago C.C

Abstract
Malaria is an infectious disease affecting a large number of the world’s population. The search for new antimalarial chemotherapies has become increasingly urgent due to the parasites’ resistance to current drugs. The invivo antiplasmodial effect of Anthocleista grandiflora in mice was investigated in this study. Anthocleista grandiflora is a medicinal plant used for the management of malaria and other ailments. Four models were investigated such as the oral acute toxicity of the methanolic extract of Anthocleista grandiflora stem bark, suppressive effect against early infection, curative effect against established infection and prophylactic effect against residual infection in chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei berghei infected mice. Acute toxicity (LD50) test of the crude extract on malaria parasites P. berghei gave a value of 1000mg/kg body weight. The in vivo antimalaria activity of the Anthocleista grandiflora extract doses (300, 500 and 700mg/kg body weight) against P. berghei berghei showed significant (p<0.05), dose-dependent activity for suppressive, curative and prophylactic tests. These results showed the importance of Anthocleista grandiflora plant with a pharmacological activity for the development of new drug for treatment or prophylaxis against malarial and other ailments.

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