In vivo Antiplasmodial efficacy of fractions of crude methanolic root extract of Morinda lucida

Abstract

Significant progress has been made in the control of malaria, but effective treatment of the disease remains a big challenge. Development of antiparasitic drugs from medicinal plants continues to be a very appealing option. Therapeutic effects of the crude methanol extract of Morinda lucida root and its fractions were evaluated in Plasmodium berghei - infected mice by assessing the curative effect and mean survival period after administration of the extracts. Preliminary toxicological study of the crude extract showed the LD50 to be 3800 mg/kg, while phytochemical screening showed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins. The crude extract and two fractions obtained from it (fractions 3 and 4) exhibited significant curative antiplasmodial effects that manifested in a longer survival period for the treated mice compared to the control (29.25±1.43, 11.25±0.75, 11.75±1.60, 24.25±1.11, 28.50±1.32, and 5.75±2.14, for crude extract, fraction 1, fraction 2, fraction 3, fraction 4, and control groups respectively). However, the group of infected mice treated with Chloroquine drug demonstrated a longer survival period (over 28 days) and a higher percentage (%) suppression of parasites. It is concluded that the methanol extract of Morinda lucida root and two of its fractions are potentially useful for the development of antimalarial drugs.