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Safety and antimalarial therapeutic index of alkaloid-rich extract of Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malaria fever is known to cause around one million passings per annum. This life-threatening infection is predominant in most part of Africa. Malaria vaccinations are challenging in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas. Drugs derived from plants have been utilized customarily to treat malaria. In this manner, assurance of the harmfulness and antimalarial capacity of plant derived drugs can demonstrate to be the source of novel lead compound to control malaria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and antimalarial therapeutic index of alkaloid-rich extract of Phyllanthus amarus in mice.

Methods

Thirty rats (n = 5/group) were used for the oral acute toxicity study and administered with varying doses (0, 100, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 mg/kg b.wt) of alkaloid-rich extract of P. amarus. The oral acute toxicity was carried out according to OECD guidelines.After 21 days of monitoring, serum liver function tests and liver histology were performed using documented methods. The antimalarial index was determined using median effective dose (ED₅₀) of thirty five mice divided into 7 groups (n = 5).

Results

showed that up to the highest dose (5000 mg/kg), there were no biochemical derangements in liver function. Physical signs of toxicity were also not observed. Antimalarial activity indices showed high potency with therapeutic index of 30.13.

Conclusion

Alkaloid-rich extract of Phyllanthus amarus is therefore, non-toxic with reputable antimalarial activity. The active alkaloid(s) deserve further study as source for possible development of new and more potent antimalarial agent.

SUBMITTER: Okom SU

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10703837 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Safety and antimalarial therapeutic index of alkaloid-rich extract of <i>Phyllanthus amarus</i> Schumach. & Thonn. in mice.

Okom Solomon U SU Ojugbeli Evelyn T ET Okpoghono Joel J Onyesom Innocent I

Heliyon 20231130 12

<h4>Background</h4>Malaria fever is known to cause around one million passings per annum. This life-threatening infection is predominant in most part of Africa. Malaria vaccinations are challenging in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas. Drugs derived from plants have been utilized customarily to treat malaria. In this manner, assurance of the harmfulness and antimalarial capacity of plant derived drugs can demonstrate to be the source of novel lead compound to control malaria. The aim of this ...[more]

PMID: 38076132

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