Effect of Aqueous Leaf Extract of <i>Jatropha tanjorensis</i> on parasitaemia and haematological parameters in mice infected with <I>Plasmodium ber ghei</I>

Abstract

Medicinal plants are proven sources of many useful drugs in our modern world. Jatropha tanjorensis, known as hospital too far, is consumed highly in Africa as herbal medicine. This research work was done to evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis on parasitaemia and haematological parameters in mice infected with Plasmodium ber ghei. The leaves of J. tanjorensis were extracted with distilled water and qualitative phytochemical analysis carried out. Acute toxicity studies were carried out using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guideline. The curative activity of the extract was examined using Rane’s test. A total of forty (40) mice were used for the study and they were infected with Plasmodium berghei. The infected mice were subdivided into five groups of six mice each and treated with different doses of standard drug (artemether/lumefantrine 25mg/kg) and extract (200, 400 and 800mg/kg body weight) for 4 days. After treatment, blood was collected and used for percentage parasitaemia, packed cell volume and hemoglobin concentration. The result of phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpe noids, cardiac glycosides and anthra quinones. The result of the acute toxicity showed the signs of neither neurological, behavioral nor mortality at concentrations of 2,000 and 5,000 mg/kg oral doses within the first 24 hours and during the 14 days study period. A dose- dependent increase was observed in Total haemoglobin (Hb) and Packed cell volume (PCV) levels which was collaborated with increase in weight as compared with negative control. The leaf extract of J. tanjorensis also revealed a significant (p<0.05) suppression activity and mean survival time at the doses of 400 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg when compared with the negative control. The extract of Jatropha tanjorensis showed reasonable levels of anti-anaemia and antimalarial activities with no signs of acute toxicity.  Therefore this study may support its use as an anti-prophylactic and blood tonic nutraceutical.