<i>Gongronema latifolium</i> Benth. leaves (Uteze) ameliorate malaria infection in <i>Plasmodium berghei</i>-infected mice

Abstract

Herbs are vital sources of bioactive compounds. This study evaluates the antimalarial, antioxidant, phytochemical and nutritional properties of Gongronema latifolium Benth. (Uteze) leaves. Pulverized dry leaves sample were macerated in hexane, methanol, ethanol and distilled water to obtain their respective extracts. The antimalarial efficacy of these extracts was assessed in male Swiss albino mice infected intraperitoneally with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei NK65, using the chemo-suppressive, prophylactic and mean survival time (MST) assays. Phytochemical and proximate analyses were assessed by standard protocols. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was analyzed using DPPH radical scavenging and ferrous ion chelating assays. From the results, the plant had significant (p < 0.05) antimalarial activity compared to the infected untreated control. The chemo- suppressive activity of the extracts declined accordingly; ethanol (46.34%) > methanol (43.16%) > aqueous (32.24%), while their prophylactic activity declined in the order of aqueous (40.25%) > ethanol (38.99%) > methanol (26.94%). Only MST in the four-day chemo-suppressive assay was significant (p < 0.05) compared to the infected untreated control. Tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenolics, cardiac glycosides and proanthocyanidins were detected in reasonable quantities in the plant. The plant also had antioxidant activity as the aqueous extract (IC₅₀ 48.50 ± 0.42) scavenged DPPH radicals better, while methanol extract (IC₅₀ 21.15 ± 0.33) chelated ferrous ion radicals more compared to other extracts. Meanwhile, the percentage nutritional composition of the plant was moisture (6.23 ± 0.01), total ash (2.22 ± 0.02), crude fat (16.32 ± 0.04), crude fibre (1.04 ± 0.01), crude protein (9.33 ± 0.58) and nitrogen free extract (64.85 ± 0.63). In conclusion, the antimalarial activity of Gongronema latifolium Benth. (Uteze) leaves could be due to its rich phytochemical and nutritional properties.