Haemato-biochemical alteration in Plasmodium berghei – infected mice treated with methanol extract of Sterculia stigera leaves.

Abstract

The effect of methanol extact of Sterculia setigera on some serum and liver enzymes, as well as, haematological parameters in Plasmodium bergei-infected mice was investigated. Fifteen mice were randomly allocated into six groups of three animals each. Group I and II were given normal saline (2 ml/kg) and chloroquine (5 mg/kg) to serve as untreated and treated controls, respectively. Groups III-V received the extract at 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively. All treatments were administered through the oral route. Haematological and Biochemical parameters including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities and total protein concentration in serum and liver of mice were evaluated. Results showed that the liver ALP activities significantly (p<0.05) increased in infected untreated mice. There were also increases in serum ALT and AST activities with concomitant decrease in liver activity of infected untreated group when compared with control mice and infected treated with extract. Treatment with methanol extract of S. setigera, however enhanced the situation as observed in the serum and liver enzymes activities in the treated mice. Total white blood cell was significantly lowered in untreated mice. There were also significant increases in the red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and mean cell volume (MCV) of infected extract (only at 600 mg/kg) treated mice when compared with the infected untreated. The results suggest that S. setigera probably has the ability to reduce Plasmodium berghei induce alteration in biochemical and hematological parameters. It could therefore be a useful cheap agent for the management of malaria