Antiplasmodial Activity of N-hexane Fraction of Laggera Aurita (LINN) Leaf Extract against Plasmodium Berghei-Infected Mice
Adamu Maitama Yusuf and Malami Sani*
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| Key words:
Antiplasmodial, Laggera aurita, Malaria, Plasmodium berghei .
*Corresponding author: malamisani@gmail.com. Page No.: 37-45 Volume: 2, Issue 1 2021 Trends in Natural Products Research Copy Right: NAPREG |
Abstract Laggera aurita Linn. (Family: Asteraceae) is used in Nigerian ethno-medicine for the treatment of malaria, epilepsy, fever, pain, stomatitis, bronchitis, nasal congestion, asthma and bacterial infections. Despite its wide usage against malaria, no scientific investigations have been performed to substantiate the claim. This study evaluated the antiplasmodial activity of n-hexane fraction of Laggera aurita leaf extract in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei. Laggera aurita fraction was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and acute toxicity study. Antiplasmodial studies (curative, suppressive and prophylactic) were conducted on the n-hexane fraction at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg. Effect of the extract on body weight, rectal temperature and parked cells volume were also evaluated in curative model. The fraction exhibited significant (p < 0.05) decrease in parasitaemia level in all the three models when compared with the negative control group. It extended the mean survival time of the mice beyond 20 days and maintained body weight in curative model. Rectal body temperature was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced between day 3 and day 7, while significant (p < 0.05) increase in packed cells volume was observed on day seven 7 when compared with the negative control group. The study suggests that the n-hexane fraction of Laggera aurita possesses antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium berghei. |