<i>In Vivo</i> Anti-Plasmodial Activity and the Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of <i>Rauvolfia Vomitoria</i> on Hematological and Lipid Parameters in Swiss Mice Infected with <i>Plasmodium Berghei</i> NK 65

Abstract

Rauvolfia vomitoria is a medicinal plant used locally in Nigeria for the management of malaria and other ailments. The study was conducted to determine the effect of ethanolic leaf extract of R. vomitoria on  hematological and lipid parameters in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65. Swiss mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with P.berghei NK65. The mice were grouped into six groups, of five per group. Only Group A were not infected with P.berghei, Groups B and C served as both positive and negative control while Groups D, E, and F were treated with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of R. vomitoria extract. The phytochemical constituents of the extract showed the presence of secondary metabolites like tannin, flavonoids, steroids and saponin. The extract of R.vomitoria showed marked anti-malaria effects in dose seeming fashion from the percentage parasitaemia computed after carrying out suppressive and curative test. The hematological parameters showed that R. vomitoria had a significant increase in HCT, RBC, HGB, and platelet values when compared to negative control. There was a significant increase in plasma TC, TG, VLDL, HDL-C and LDL-C in the infected untreated group compared to other groups. This study showed that R. vomitoria extract suppressed the growth of P. berghei NK65 and it had antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effect on animals infected with P. berghei NK65.

Keywords: Rauvolfia vomitoria, Anti-plasmodial, Swiss albino mice, Plasmodium berghei NK 65 and Biochemical parameters.