Effect of Phoenix reclinata Jacq Methanol Leaf Extract and Fractions on Plasmodium berghei Infected Mice

Abstract

Malaria treatment is burdened by many challenges including growing resistance to currently used antimalarial drugs. Thus, the continuous search for safe and effective remedies is necessary. This study investigated the antiplasmodial activities of the methanol extract (ME) of Phoenix reclinata and its n-hexane (HF), ethyl acetate (EF), and butanol (BF) fractions. Phytochemistry of the extract and fractions was conducted. The effect of methanol extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and its solvent fractions (200 and 400 mg/kg) on parasitaemia levels was evaluated using curative, suppressive, and prophylactic anti-plasmodial models. The antipyretic effect of its solvent fractions was also determined. In the curative model, ME exhibited dose-dependent chemosuppression of 18.4%, 46.4%, and 79.6% at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg. At 200 and 400 mg/kg, HF produced 24.5% and 28.9%, EF produced 56.8% and 85.3%, and BF produced 48% and 56.8%. In the Suppressive model, ME exhibited a dose-dependent chemosuppression of 19.08%, 45.23%, and 80% by 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, HF exhibited 15.55% and 28.89%, EF exhibited 61.32% and 81.94%, BF exhibited 34.06% and 43.08% for 200 and 400 mg/kg. In the prophylactic model, ME exhibited a dose-dependent chemosuppression of 8.71 %, 15.59%, and 17.48 % by 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg. HF exhibited 2.66% and 8.6% for 200 and 400 mg/kg. BF exhibited anti-plasmodial suppression of 15.73% and 21.68% for 200 and 400 mg/kg. EF exhibited the highest chemosuppression in all the models.