Landolphia owariensis leaf extracts reduce parasitemia in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice

Abstract Context Landolphia owariensis P. Beauv. (Apocyanaceae) leaf is used in southeast Nigeria to treat malaria. Objective This study evaluated the antiplasmodial activity of L. owariensis leaf extract and fractions, also the phytoconstituents were standardized and analyzed. Methods The effects of daily, oral administrations of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of L. owariensis leaf extract (LOE), its hexane (LOHF), ethyl acetate (LOEF) and methanol (LOMF) fractions on early, established and residual infections in Plasmodium berghei-infected albino mice were evaluated in vivo. The extract and fractions were subjected to phytochemical analysis and HPLC fingerprinting, and the acute toxicity of LOE was evaluated. Results The extract and fractions elicited 29–86, 18–95 and 75–96% significant (p < 0.001) suppression of parasitemia in early, established and residual infections, respectively. The ED50 values for suppressive activity of LOE, LOHF, LOEF and LOMF were 266.56, 514.93, 392.95 and 165.70 mg/kg, respectively. The post-day 30-survival index was 16.7–50, 16.7, 16.7–66.7 and 50–83.3% for LOE, LOHF, LOEF, and LOMF, respectively. Extract-treated mice significantly (p < 0.001) gained weight and had reduced mortality compared with negative control (untreated) mice. An oral LD50 value  >5000 mg/kg in mice was established for LOE. The LOMF showed the greatest antiplasmodial activity in all the models, suggesting that the antimalarial activity of the plant may be attributed to alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins present in the fraction. Conclusion Results demonstrate the antiplasmodial activity of L. owariensis leaf, and provide a pharmacological rationale for its ethnomedicinal use as an antimalarial agent.

[1]  Mukta Gupta,et al.  PLANT DERIVED ANTIMALARIAL AGENTS: NEW LEADS AND EFFICIENT PHYTOMEDICINES , 2018 .

[2]  K. Awang,et al.  Antiplasmodial Alkaloids from the Bark of Cryptocarya nigra (Lauraceae) , 2013, Molecules.

[3]  P. O. Osadebe,et al.  Isolation and Characterization of Potential Bioactive Compounds from Landolphia owariensis P. Beauv Stringy Seed Pulp , 2013 .

[4]  N. Ahmat,et al.  Flavonoids with antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of Macaranga triloba. , 2012, Fitoterapia.

[5]  R. Basir,et al.  Plasmodium berghei ANKA Infection in ICR Mice as a Model of Cerebral Malaria , 2012, Iranian journal of parasitology.

[6]  D. Attwood.  Malaria in South Sudan 2: clinical features and diagnosis , 2011 .

[7]  T. Okonkwo,et al.  Hepatoprotective effect of Landolphia owariensis P Beauv. seed against CCl 4 -induced hepatopathy in rats , 2010 .

[8]  S. Olaleye,et al.  Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of leaf extracts of Landolphia Owariensis , 2010 .

[9]  A. Oliveira,et al.  Plant-derived antimalarial agents: new leads and efficient phythomedicines. Part I. Alkaloids. , 2009, Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias.

[10]  Ronan Batista,et al.  Plant-Derived Antimalarial Agents: New Leads and Efficient Phytomedicines. Part II. Non-Alkaloidal Natural Products , 2009, Molecules.

[11]  S. Olaleye,et al.  Antiulcer and gastric antisecretory effects of Landolphia owariensis extracts in rats. , 2010, Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences.

[12]  C. Ibegbulem,et al.  Phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Landolphia owariensis leaf , 2007 .

[13]  T. Dalla Costa,et al.  Plasmodium berghei: development of an irreversible experimental malaria model in Wistar rats. , 2006, Experimental parasitology.

[14]  K. Chibale,et al.  Novel approaches to antimalarial drug discovery. , 2006, Infectious disorders drug targets.

[15]  Monica Cheesbrough,et al.  District Laboratory Practice in Tropical Countries: Acknowledgements , 2005 .

[16]  D. Lorke.  A new approach to practical acute toxicity testing , 1983, Archives of Toxicology.

[17]  Monica Cheesbrough,et al.  District Laboratory Practice in Tropical Countries: Acknowledgements , 2005 .

[18]  D. Dive,et al.  Age-related susceptibility and resistance to Plasmodium berghei in mice and rats. , 2003, Experimental parasitology.

[19]  S. Saxena,et al.  Antimalarial agents from plant sources , 2003 .

[20]  C. Herforth.  Antimalarial Activity of , 2002 .

[21]  J. Langhorne,et al.  Mouse models of blood-stage malaria infections: immune responses and cytokines involved in protection and pathology. , 2002, Chemical immunology.

[22]  M. Hamburger,et al.  Screening of some Nigerian medicinal plants for antioxidant activity using 2,2, diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl radical , 2002 .

[23]  V. Yardley,et al.  In vitro antiprotozoal activity of extract and compounds from the stem bark of Combretum molle , 2001, Phytotherapy research : PTR.

[24]  R. Faure,et al.  Structure and antiprotozoal activity of triterpenoid saponins from Glinus oppositifolius. , 2000, Planta medica.

[25]  C. Janse,et al.  Transfection systems for animal models of malaria. , 1998, Parasitology today.

[26]  S. Christensen,et al.  Antiprotozoal compounds from Asparagus africanus. , 1997, Journal of natural products.

[27]  S. Ofoefule,et al.  Investigations into the Folkloric Antimicrobial Activities of Landolphia owrrience , 1997 .

[28]  C. Gyllenhaal,et al.  The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. Vol. 2: Families E-I. , 1994 .

[29]  I. Landau,et al.  Plasmodium species infecting Thamnomys rutilans: a zoological study. , 1994, Advances in parasitology.

[30]  F. Cox.  CHAPTER 2 – Plasmodia of Rodents , 1993 .

[31]  L. H. Carvalho,et al.  Antimalarial activity of crude extracts from Brazilian plants studied in vivo in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice and in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum in culture. , 1991, Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas.

[32]  W. Peters,et al.  The antimalarial activity of N-benzyloxydihydrotriazines. I. The activity of clociguanil (BRL 50216) against rodent malaria, and studies on its mode of action. , 1980, Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology.

[33]  W. Lewis,et al.  Medical botany. Plants affecting man's health , 1979, Medical History.

[34]  R. Killick-Kendrick.  1 – Taxonomy, Zoogeography and Evolution , 1978 .

[35]  Y. Boulard,et al.  2 – Life Cycles and Morphology , 1978 .

[36]  J. Harborne,et al.  Phytochemical methods , 1973 .

[37]  J. F. Ryley,et al.  The antimalarial activity of some quinolone esters. , 1970, Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology.

[38]  W. Peters.  Drug resistance in Plasmodium berghei Vincke and Lips, 1948. I. Chloroquine resistance. , 1965, Experimental parasitology.

[39]  C. Dolea,et al.  World Health Organization , 1949, International Organization.

[40]  A. R.,et al.  The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa , 1938, Nature.

[41]  J. Dalziel,et al.  The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. , 1938 .