Antiplasmodial, Antipyretic, Haematological and Histological Effects of the Leaf Extracts of Moringa oleifera in Plasmodium berghei berghei Infected Mice

Abstract

The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera leaf were evaluated for safety, antimalarial and antipyretic activities because it is commonly used for various types of ailments especially malaria and fever. The various concentration of these extracts (0-800mg/kg) were tested against Plasmodium berghei berghei infected albino mice of either sex, in a Peters’ four day antiplasmodial test while antipyretic activities were evaluated in malaria- induced mice. Their possible effects on haematological parameters of PCV, WBC, neutrophil, lymphocytes count and liver enzymes were also determined as well as on the liver and kidney architecture. All the tested doses of the aqueous extract were comparable in antiplasmodial activity (p>0.05) to each of the tested doses of the ethanolic extract which were significantly different (p<0.05) from the negative control.  Only the highest doses of both extracts gave significantly higher (p<0.05) antiplasmodial activity than the standard drug. For the ethanolic extract, a significant antipyretic activity was not observed until at 800mg/kg in time T3 while the aqueous extract exerted no significant antipyretic activity at all doses and at all times. The ethanolic extract gave significantly higher PCV values than that of the aqueous. The administration of the aqueous extract gave significantly lower WBC than the ethanolic extract while comparable increase in lymphocyte count was noticeable at each of the doses of both extracts when compared to the negative control. Only 100mg/kg and 800mg/kg of the aqueous extract maintained a relatively high neutrophils count in this study. Also, the aqueous extract elicited higher concentration of ALT (greater than fourfold of normal) but the ethanolic extract produced the highest level of AST at the highest dose of 800mg/kg when compared to the ethanolic extract. Histological examination of the kidney showed progressive degeneration while that of the liver showed recovery when compared to negative control as a result of progressive increase in dosage of the extracts in malarial treatment. In conclusion, though both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera leaves exert chemosuppressive antiplasmodial activities in Plasmodium berghei berghei infected mice and exhibited antipyretic activity with some improved haematological parameters, caution should be taken in its indiscriminate use because of probable toxic effects on the kidney and the liver.