ANTIPLASMODIAL ACTIVITY OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF THE ROOTS OF ARISTOLOCHIA ALBIDA IN ALBINO SWISS MICE

^*1M. E. Khan, ¹I. Toma, ¹D. Y. Shingu and ²C.H. Wazis

¹ Department of Chemistry Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria

²Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

e-mail: emamulu@yahoo.com 

ABSTRACT

 Biological investigation of the efficacy of the methanol extract of the roots of Aristolochia albida, locally used in forms of decoction / concoction for the treatment of malaria, diarrhea and other related diseases  in kaltungo LGA of Gombe State and Gwoza LGA of Borno State, both in North Eastern Nigeria.  Here, the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of the methanol extract of the roots of Aristolochia albida was evaluated in plasmodium berghei berghei infected mice. Oral acute infection, prophylactic effect against residual infection and the mean survival time using chloroquine sensitive plasmodium berghei berghei NK65 infected mice. The Oral median lethal dose of the extract in mice was determined to be about 5000mg kg^-1 body weight. The extract at doses of (100, 200 and 400mg kg^-1b.w.) used, produced significant (P< 0.05), dose dependent activity against the parasites in the suppressive, curative and prophylactic tests. The results suggest that the methanol fraction of Aristolochia albida possesses antiplasmodial activity and thus lends credence to its ethno medical, folkloric, and its tropical African indigenous usage for the cure of malaria.

Keywords: Aristolochia albida, Plasmodium berghei berghei, in vitro, prophylactic-test, Swiss Mice