Russian Journal of Biological Research

8-15

Authors: Ishaya Yohanna Longdet, Mankilik M. Mary, Offikwu Onyowo Maria, Idoko Edward David

The main aim of this research was to study the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of diethyl ether fraction of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf on malaria infection in experimental albino mice. The dried leaves were pounded into its powdered form with the aid of mortar and pestle. The plant leaf was extracted with Diethyl ether, yielded 4.03 g extract and the extract was screened for antiplasmodial activity. Mice infected with Plasmodium berghei were administered intraperitoneally doses ranging from 100-300 mg/kg body weight/day of the extract for 10 consecutive days. The positive control group was treated with 25 mg/kg of chloroquine. The diethyl ether extracts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf shows suppressive activities on Plasmodium berghei in the animals treated. The group treated with standard drug (chloroquine) and the normal control group (uninfected untreated) survived beyond the experimental period, although the clearance time was faster for the standard drug. Changes in behavior and bodyweight were observed, this could be as a result of loss of appetite in the treated animal. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of 6 phytochemicals including cardiac glycosides. The packed cell volume of the groups treated with diethyl ether extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis decreased significantly as compared with both the positive and negative control groups while there is a slight increase in the normal control groups. From the result obtained, we can conclude that the diethyl ether leaf extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weight of mice reduced parasitemia level. So diethyl ether fraction of Eucalyptus camaldulensis was effective in the therapeutic management of malaria parasite.

22-28

Authors: Ishaya Yohanna Longdet, Deborah Haruna Yakubu

The work was designed to investigate the anti-malarial activity of chloroform root extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis on Plasmodium berghei NK65 strain infection in vivo. Eighteen mice were intraperitoneal infected with chloroquine sensitive P. berghei strain and shared into 6 equal groups. Groups A, B, and C were treated, after infection, with 100, 200 and 300 mg extract/kg body weight of mouse respectively while group D was treated with 25 mg chloroquine/kg body weight. Group E mice were infected and administered only normal saline (negative control), and group F was neither infected nor treated. Phytochemical constituents of the plant extract were evaluated. The three concentrations of the extract resulted in reduced parasitemia, although the 200 mg/kg administered to group B had more effect than the 300mg/kg and 100 mg/kg administered to group C and A respectively. The highest activity was observed in the chloroquine group (positive control group). Also, at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, the extract produced increase in body weight and life span as compared to mice in the negative control group. At doses of 100mg/kg and 300mg/kg, the extract produced increase in PCV of the infected mice as compared to mice in the negative control group. Phytochemical screening showed that the leaf extract contains alkaloids, Balsam, Resin, cardiac glycosides and terpenes and steroids. The chloroform root extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis presented a transient effect on Plasmodium infection in mice and so justifies the use of the plant as part of native desertion against malaria.