| Key words:
Malaria, Alchornea laxiflora, Plasmodium berghei, Antiplasmodial, Oxidative stress
*Corresponding Author: judeokokon@uniuyo.edu.ng
DOI:https://doi.org/10.61594/tnpr.v7i1.2026.150
Page No: 1–15
Volume: 7, Issue 1, 2026
Trends in Natural Products Research
Copy Right: NAPREG
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Abstract
Alchornea laxiflora [Benth.] Pax and K.Hoffm (Euphorbiaceae) is used in Ibibio ethnomedicine for the treatment of various diseases such as malaria. The stem bark extract and fractions of Alchornea laxiflora were investigated for their effects on parasitaemia, hematological parameters, oxidative stress markers, lipid profile, liver function indices and histopathology of the liver in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice using a curative test model.
Acute toxicity test and phytochemical screening of the extract were also carried out. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of active compounds. The stem bark extract (141–424 mg/kg, p.o.) with LD50 of 1414.21 mg/kg exerted significant (P < 0.05–0.001) antimalarial activity against P. berghei infection in curative tests, with methanol and dichloromethane fractions having the highest activity.
The extract/fractions treatment did not significantly alter (P > 0.05) liver function indices except significantly elevated conjugated bilirubin in the methanol fraction group. Significant reduction of MDA level was observed in all treated groups. Histological examination revealed reductions in pathological features in infected mice treated with the extract and fractions.
These results suggest that the stem bark extract and fractions of Alchornea laxiflora possess antimalarial, antiplasmodial, antioxidative stress and hepatoprotective activities due to their phytochemical constituents.
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