Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Toxicology

Histopathological Analysis and Antiplasmodial Efficacy of Momordica balsamina Linn Leaf Extracts Against Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Bernard Egwu Igiri 1, 2
Mohammad Hassan Isa Doko 3
Helen Ileigo Inabo 3
Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun 4

1 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Microbiology, Zaria Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria

2 Ekureku, Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology Extension Centre, Nigeria

3 Department of Microbiology, Zaria Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria

4 Department of Biochemistry, Zaria Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria

https://doi.org/10.22038/apjmt.2024.77633.1443
Abstract
Background: In the midst of transient conquests by medications against malaria, Plasmodium parasites are the foremost public health problem globally. The emergence of drug-resistant parasites has worsened the condition, emphasizing the need for effective and inexpensive antimalarial. In line with this necessity, the study aimed at evaluating the toxicity and antiplasmodial activity of Momordica balsamina extracts against Plasmodium berghei. Methods: Successive extraction technique via maceration was employed. Acute oral toxicity study was conducted as per the standard protocol. In vivo antiplasmodial activity of M. balsamina extracts against early infection was assessed in P. berghei-infected mice at different doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w. Data was analyzed using GraphPad Prism version 8.0.2 using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s post hoc test with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: The extracts of M. balsamina did not cause any significant toxicological changes and the lethal dose estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. Ethyl acetate extract demonstrated highest chemosuppression (52.8%), followed by methanol extract (44.9%), and n-hexane extracts (30.3%).
Conclusion: The study ascertained the safety of M. balsamina leaf and emphasized caution regarding higher doses and studies that could advance scientific knowledge are highly encouraged. The findings demonstrated moderate suppressive antiplasmodial capacities of M. balsamina leaf extracts.

Keywords

Antiplasmodial activity
Toxicity
Antimalarial activity
Malaria
Plasmodium berghei
Subjects
  1. Assis FF, Almeida Junior JSd, Moraes TM, Varotti FD, Moraes CC, Sartoratto A, et al. Antiplasmodial Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract from Jucá (Libidibia ferrea) Pods. 2023 Apr 6; (15): 1162.
  2. World Health Organization. World malaria report 2023; World Health Organization; 2023 Nov 30.
  3. Rout S, Mahapatra RK. Plasmodium falciparum: Multidrug resistance. Chemical Biology & Drug Design, May;93(5), 737–59.
  4. Van der Pluijm RW, Amaratunga C, Dhorda M, Dondorp AM. Triple artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria–a new paradigm? Trends in Parasitology. 2021 Jan 1; 37(1); 15–24.
  5. Emmanuel O, Uche ME, Dike ED, Etumnu LR, Ugbogu OC, Ugbogu EA. A review on Garcinia kola Heckel: Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and toxicology. Biomarkers. 2022 Feb 17;27 (2); 101–17.
  6. Ekweogu CN, Akubugwo EI, Emmanuel O, Nosiri CI, Uche ME, Adurosakin OE, et al. Phytochemical profiling, toxicity studies, wound healing, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Musa paradisiaca Musaceae (Plantain) stem extract in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Mar 25; 322: 117639.
  7. Mabasa XE, Mathomu LM, Madala NE, Musie EM, Sigidi MT. Molecular Spectroscopic (FTIR and UV-Vis) and Hyphenated Chromatographic (UHPLC-qTOF-MS) Analysis and In Vitro Bioactivities of the Momordica balsamina Leaf Extract. Biochemistry Research International, 2021;2021(1):2854217.
  8. Bature AM, Dikwa KB, Alhaji AI, Diba DM. Phytochemical Analysis and In vivo Evaluation of Individual Activity of Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Azadirachta indica, Senna occidentalisand Momordica balsamina against Plasmodium berghei Infected Mice. Journal of Advances in Microbiology 2021 Sep 16;21(9): 39-49.
  9. Sani AA, Idris SB, Yakubu S. Anti-Diabetic Activity of Methanolic Extract of Momordica balsamina in rabbits. Scientific Research Journal (SCIRJ), Volume VII, Issue 2019;7:1-6.
  10. Anaduaka EG, Okagu IU, Uchendu NO, Ezeanyika LUS, Nwanguma BC. Hepato-renal toxicity of Myristica fragrans Houtt (Myristicaceae) seed extracts in rats. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 2022 Jan 1;34(1): 101694.
  11. Salako SE. The declaration of Helsinki 2000: ethical principles and the dignity of difference. & L., 2006; 25: 341.
  12. Methods for surveillance of antimalarial drug efficacy. Available. Accessed 27 February 2019.
  13. Jaradat N, Eid A, Abdelwahab F, Isa L, Abdulrahman A, Abualhwasan F, Hussein AM. Phytochemical analysis, quantitative estimations of total phenols and free radical scavenging activity of Bupleurum subovatum from Jerusalem. Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2015 Sep 16;21(4): 205–10.
  14. Peters W, Portus JH, Robinson BL. The chemotherapy of rodent malaria, XXII: the value of drug-resistant strains of P. berghei in screening for blood schizontocidal activity. Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology. 1975 Jun 1;69(2): 155-71.
  15. Chaniad P, Techarang T, Phuwajaroanpong A, Punsawad C. Antimalarial activity and toxicological assessment of Betula alnoides extract against Plasmodium berghei infections in mice. Evidence-Based Complementary Alternative Medicine. 2019:2019(1):2324679
  16. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Test No. 425: acute oral toxicity: up-and-down procedure. 2008.
  17. Elwakeel SH, Abdel Rahman A. Protective Effect of Gallic Acid on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Nephrotoxicity, Oxidative Stress, Genotoxicity, and Histopathological Alterations in Male Albino Rats. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, B. Zoology. 2021 Dec 1; 13(2): 225-44.
  18. Wang C, Hui J, Zhu X, Cui S, Cui Z, Xu D. “Lobetyolin efficiently promotes angiogenesis and neuronal development in transgenic zebrafish,” Natural Product Communications. 2020 Aug;15(8):1934578, 2020.
  19. Pieters L, Vlietinck AJ. Bioguided isolation of pharmacologically active plant components, still a valuable strategy for the finding of new lead compounds? Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2005 Aug 22; 100(1-2): 57–60.
  20. Cragg GM, Newman DJ. Natural products: a continuing source of novel drug leads. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects. 2013 Jun 1; 1830(6):3670–95.
  21. WHO, “Hazard classification-acute LD50 values of formulated products,” in Ce Guidebook to the Registration of Public Health Pesticides and Repellents against VectorsWorld Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 1975.
  22. Adeneye AA, Olagunju JA. Preliminary hypoglycemic and hypolipidemicactiv ities of the aqueous seed extract of Carica papaya Linn in wistar rat. Biol Med. 2009;1(1):1–10
  23. Ramalhete C, da Cruz FP, Lopes D, Mulhovo S, Rosário VE, Prudêncio M, Ferreira MJ U. Triterpenoids as inhibitors of erythrocytic and liver stages of Plasmodium infections. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry. 2011 Dec 15;19 (24), 7474-81.
  24. Koonrungsesomboon N, Na-Bangchang K, Karbwang J. Therapeutic potential and pharmacological activities of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2014 Jun 1;7(6): 421-8.
  25. Kadiri OJ, Okafor SI, Ogaji JI. Safety and health benefits profile studies of leaf extracts of Momordica balsamina Linn found in North Central Nigeria. GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2020 May 30;11(2): 278–86.
  26. Habte G, Nedi T, Assefa S. Antimalarial activity of aqueous and 80% methanol crude seed extracts and solvent fractions of Schinus molleLinnaeus (Anacardiaceae) in Plasmodium berghei-Infected mice. Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2020;2020(1):9473250, 9.
  27. Tchatat Tali MB, Jiatsa Mbouna CD, Yamthe Tchokouaha LR, Tsouh Fokou PV, Tsakem Nangap JM, Keumoe R, et al. In vivo antiplasmodial activity of Terminalia mantaly stem barks aqueous extract in mice infected by Plasmodium berghei. Journal of Parasitology Research. 2020;2020(1):4580526.
  28. Tajbakhsh E, Kwent TE, Parya K, Saeed N, David SL, Faham K. Antiplasmodial, antimalarial activities and toxicity of African medicinal plants: systematic review of literature. Malaria Journal 2021 Dec;20:1-50.
  29. Ceravolo IP, Aguiar AC, Adebayo JO, Krettli AU. Studies on activities and chemical characterization of medicinal plants in search for new Antimalarial: a ten year review on Ethnopharmacology. Frontier Pharmacology 2021 Sep 22;12:734263.
  30. Habibi P, Shi Y, Fatima Grossi-de-Sa M, Khan I. Plants as sources of natural and recombinant Antimalarial agents. Molecolar Biotechnology 2022 Nov 64(11):1177–97.
Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Toxicology
Volume 13, Issue 2
Spring 2024
Pages 49-55

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us