Evaluation of the Antimalarial and Liver Function Potentials of Methanol Extract of Chrysophyllum albidum Stem Bark in Plasmodium berghei-infected Mice

Abstract

Chrysophyllum albidum (C. albidum) has reputation in Nigeria as remedy for different ailments. This study evaluated the antimalarial potentials of methanol extract of the stem bark of C. albidum and specific Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) activities in both sera and livers of Plasmodium berghei infected mice treated with methanol extract of C. albidum stem bark. The result of the phytochemical screening indicated the presence of anthraquinones, steroids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoides, flavonoids, saponins and phlobatannins. Percentage parasite inhibition was calculated to be 56.97%, 74.10%, 85.26% and 92.83% for groups treated with 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg body weight of the methanol extract of C. albidum stem bark and 5 mg/kg body weight of Chloroquine (standard drug) respectively. It was observed that, the specific ALP, ALT and AST activities in both sera and liver samples of the group infected but not treated were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the infected and treated groups. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in the specific ALP, ALT and AST activities between groups treated with 5 mg/kg body weight of Chloroquine and 600mg/kg body weight of the methanol extract of C. albidum stem bark. However, there was no significant difference (p˃0.05) in the specific ALP, ALT and AST activities between the groups treated with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight of methanol extract of C. albidum stem bark. The ability of the methanol extract of C. albidum stem bark to inhibit parasite multiplication/progression may be attributed to the presence of various bioactive constituents such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloid or saponins and further support the ethno medicinal claim of the use of other parts of the plant in the treatment of malaria.