7.3 Evaluation of Antimalarial Activity of the Leaves Latex of Aloe Megalacantha Baker in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Mice
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease with about 214 million cases and 438,000 deaths worldwide in 2015 with about 88% of the cases and 90% of the deaths being in Africa. This might be attributed to a wide spread of resistance of the parasites to the standard antimalarial drugs. The plant Aloe megalacantha Baker is indigenous to Ethiopia where the sap of the leaves is traditionally used as a medicine for various illnesses including malaria. This study aimed at evaluating the anti-malarial effects of the leaf latex of Aloe megalacantha against Plasmodium berghei, as tested using Peters’ 4-day suppressive test. After treatment of Plasmodium berghei infected mice with leaf latex of Aloe megalacantha for four days at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, it showed 30.3%, 43.4% and 56.4% chemo-suppression, respectively. The observed parasite suppression of leaf latex was statistically significant (P<0.05) as compared to negative control. The latex was also observed to reduce body weight loss and hypothermia due to infection with Plasmodium berghei. Moreover, neither the latex nor the compounds were seen to cause any sign of acute oral toxicity at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, which describes that the latex is safe at the specified dose. Hence, the present study supports the traditional use of the plant against malaria.
7.3 Evaluation of Antimalarial Activity of the Leaves Latex of Aloe Megalacantha Baker in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Mice
1920 Sangren Hall
Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease with about 214 million cases and 438,000 deaths worldwide in 2015 with about 88% of the cases and 90% of the deaths being in Africa. This might be attributed to a wide spread of resistance of the parasites to the standard antimalarial drugs. The plant Aloe megalacantha Baker is indigenous to Ethiopia where the sap of the leaves is traditionally used as a medicine for various illnesses including malaria. This study aimed at evaluating the anti-malarial effects of the leaf latex of Aloe megalacantha against Plasmodium berghei, as tested using Peters’ 4-day suppressive test. After treatment of Plasmodium berghei infected mice with leaf latex of Aloe megalacantha for four days at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, it showed 30.3%, 43.4% and 56.4% chemo-suppression, respectively. The observed parasite suppression of leaf latex was statistically significant (P<0.05) as compared to negative control. The latex was also observed to reduce body weight loss and hypothermia due to infection with Plasmodium berghei. Moreover, neither the latex nor the compounds were seen to cause any sign of acute oral toxicity at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, which describes that the latex is safe at the specified dose. Hence, the present study supports the traditional use of the plant against malaria.