Antimalarial activities of the methanol leaf extract of <i>Senna itilaca</i> mill. in <i>Plasmodium berghei</i> infected mice

Abstract

Malaria constitutes a major public health threat, particularly in the tropical and subtropical countries of the world. Senna italica has been traditionally used for the management of many ailments, including stomach disorders, fever, jaundice, and malaria. The present study investigated the antimalarial activity of the methanol leaf extract of Senna italica. Preliminary phytochemical screening and acute oral toxicity tests were carried out using standard protocols. Antimalarial activity was investigated using suppressive, curative, and prophylactic models in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannins, saponins, carbohydrates, anthraquinones, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, and steroids. The oral median lethal dose was estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. The extract at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg produced a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent reduction in parasitemia levels in the suppressive, curative, and prophylactic tests. In addition, administration of the extract prolonged the mean survival time of the mice in all models compared to the controls (chloroquine 5 mg/kg and pyrimethamine 1.2 mg/kg). The results from this study suggest that the methanol leaf extract of Senna italica possesses antimalarial activity, thus providing a scientific basis for its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria.