Anti-malarial activity of the root extract of Euphorbia abyssinica (Euphorbiaceae) against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Abrham Belachew Muluye, Ashenafi Genanew Desta, Selamu Kebamo Abate, Gemechu Tiruneh Dano
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019
• Subjects: Anti-malarial activity; Euphorbia abyssinica; Malaria; Mice; Plasmodium berghei; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2887-7; https://doaj.org/article/e09f11f585124c3ab94e1da5ab1708a1

Abstract Background More than 200 medicinal plants including Euphorbia abyssinica are utilized for treatment of malaria in Ethiopian traditional medical practices. However, the safety, efficacy and quality of these medicinal plants are largely unknown. Pharmacological and toxicological investigations of these plants are among the prioritized issues in every country. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the anti-malarial activity of Euphorbia abyssinica root extract against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Methods The fresh roots of Euphorbia abyssinica were identified and collected. They were dried and extracted by 80% methanol using maceration. Acute toxicity of the extract was done using female Swiss albino mice. Anti-malarial activity of the extract was done by a standard 4-day suppressive test using chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei. Twenty-five male Swiss albino mice were randomly grouped into 5 groups of 5 mice each. Group I was treated with distilled water (10 ml/kg), group II, III, and IV were treated with 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg of extract, respectively and group V was treated with chloroquine (25 mg/kg). The level of parasitaemia, survival time, and variation in weight were utilized to determine the anti-malarial activity of the extract. Data was analysed using ANOVA followed by Tukey test. Results The plant extract did not show any sign of toxicity and mortality at 2000 mg/kg. The 4-day chemosuppressive anti-malarial activities produced by the crude extract were 66.87% (P < 0.001), 84.94% (P < 0.001) and 93.69% (P < 0.001) at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg extract, respectively, compared to distilled water treated group. Mice treated with 400 mg/kg (P < 0.01), and 600 mg/kg extract (P < 0.001) showed significant chemosuppressive anti-malarial activity variations as compared to mice treated with 200 mg/kg extract. Mice treated with 600 mg/kg extract significantly (P < 0.001) lived longer than distilled water treated mice. However, the crude extract did not cause any ...