Antimalarial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Root Bark of Salacia nitida L. Benth in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the in vivo antimalarial activity of ethanolic extract of root bark of Salacia nitida in mice infected with Plasmodium bergei.

Methods: Prophylactic and curative antimalarial activity of ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida was studied using sixty-six healthy mice infected with chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei. 430 mg/kg body weight/day of the extract was given orally infected mice in the prophylactic test for 11 days, while 280 – 580 mg/kg body weight/day of extract was orally administered to the malaria infected mice in the curative test for 5 days, against 4 mg/kg body weight/day of artesunate drug. The antimalarial effect of the ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida on the parasites was determined.

Results: The ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida at a dose of 430 mg/kg body weight/day caused 89.77% inhibition in the levels of parasitaemia in the prophylactic test and 33.78% - 88.45% inhibitions of parasitaemia levels in the curative tests.

Conclusion: The results showed that the ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida possessed significant (p < 0.05) antimalarial activity, thus supporting its traditional use in the treatment of malaria.