Potency of Ficus exasparata leaf extract on albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei

By Araka, AD; Ayibadinipre, JG (2023).

Greener Journal of Medical Sciences

Vol. 13(1), pp. 69-73, 2023

ISSN: 2276-7797

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7801964

https://gjournals.org/GJMS

Potency of Ficus exasparata leaf extract on albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei

*Araka Akugbenebibo Dominic*¹, Ayibadinipre Jennis Gbeghebo²

¹Department of Biology, Bayelsa Medical University Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

²Department of Biology, Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama, Bayelsa State

ARTICLE INFO

ABSTRACT

Article No.: 033123032

Type: Research

Full Text: PDF, HTML, PHP, EPUB

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7801964

This study was conducted to determine the effects of Ficus exasparata (sand paper plant) on albino mice experimentally infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei. The mice were grouped into four of five mice each. The mice in groups A, B, and C were inoculated with Plasmodium berghei berghei while those in the group D were not inoculated with the parasite to serve as the control group. Group A and B were treated with the ethanoic leaf extract of Ficus exasparata with 100mg/body weight/day and 200mg/body weight/day respectively for six days after inoculation with the parasite. The extract significantly suppressed the malaria parasite in the treated groups when compared with the control group. Phytochemical analysis of Ficus exasparata showed the presence of Tannins, Flavonoid, Saponins and Glycosides. The statistical tool used was Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC). The statistical analysis showed no significant difference between doses 100mg and 200mg, but there was a significant suppression of the parasite. It is therefore concluded, that Ficus exasparata extract is capable of treating infection with Plasmodium berghei berghei.

Accepted: 03/04/2023

Published: 05/04/2023

*Corresponding Author

Araka Akugbenebibo Dominic

E-mail: dominicaraka@ gmail.com

Keywords: Ficus exasparata, Plasmodium berghei berghei, Mice, Potency.

1. INTRODUCTION

Malaria is one of the greatest menace to humans that is transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles Mosquito. The species of plasmodia that poses this threat are Plasmodium falciparum, P. malarial, P. ovale, P. vivax, and P. Knowlesi [1] of the four species that infected humans, P. falciparum and vivax account for 95% of infections, P. vivax has the widest distribution, extending throughout the tropics, subtopics, and temperate zones. P. falciparum is confirmed to the tropics, P. malarial is sporadically distributed as P. ovale is rare in much of the world but relatively common in Western Africa. In India, P. vivax and P. falciparum are very common, a few cases of P. malarial and P. ovale have been reported [2]. P. knowlesi rarely occurs in human. It was first discovered in monkeys [3]. P. berghei is used in the laboratory as a practical model organism for the study of human malaria organism for the aim of developing a new management measure for the control and prevention of malaria [4]. Malaria is a serious public health problem in the world. In 2015, and estimated 214 Million new cases was recorded, 228 Million cases in 2018 worldwide resulting in an estimated 405,000 deaths with 93% of the cases and 94% of the deaths occurred in Africa of which, more than two-third of the malaria deaths occurred in children under 5 years [5]. Nigeria accounts for 27% of the total African Malaria Burden [5]. Malaria is associated with poverty and economic growth is highly hindered. Nigeria losses over 200 Billion naira annually to the battle against malaria in form of treatment costs, prevention and lose od man hours [6].

The greatest global concern now is the rapid spread of Plasmodium falciparum and its resistance to Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs) which is used as a first line anti-malarial therapy [7]. The use of traditional herbal medicine as a possible alternative to the cure if malaria is pertinent as it is mostly available, affordable, cheap, effective with minimal side effects in clinical experience compared to other drugs [8].

Ficus exasparata - This specie belongs to the family Moraceae. It does not produce a milky sap when cut but does produce a sticky rather viscid sap. The baric is smooth, grey phyllotaxy is alternate and leaves are rather variable in morphology from being lobed to ovate and even obovate elliptic. The surface of the leaves is rough to the touch, lance the common English name, "Sand Paper tree". In Nigeria, this plant is traditionally known as Ameme in Edo State, Omeni in Etsake etc. [9]. Extracts from this plant has been used as medicine by indigenous people for the treatment of hypertension, arthritis, peptic ulcer and pre-term labour for more than 300 years [9].

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ethical Approval

The experimental management, animal handling and care was approved by the research and ethics committee of the Department of Biology, Bayelsa Medical University, Bayelsa State Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Plant Leaf Collection

Ficus exasparata leaves were harvested in the month of October, 2021 from the Faculty if Science, Bayelsa Medical University Campus Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Nigeria and G Voucher Specimen of the plant was deposited in the herbarium of the Department of Biology of same University.

Preparation of Ethanoic Extract of Ficus exasparata leaves

The harvested fresh leaves of the Ficus exasparata was washed with clean water and air dried at room temperature for five days, followed by pulverization to powder form using an electric blender, then it was soaked in 80% ethanol. The 80% ethanol was prepared by measuring 20ml of distilled water into a glass jar, into which was added 80ml of ethanol, about 500g of the mixture was macerated into the 80% ethanol and allowed to stand for 24 hours to obtain the dry extract. It was evaporated to dryness in a water bath at 47 ^oC.

Determination of Phytochemicals

Phytochemical analysis of ethanoic leaf extract of Ficus exasparata was carried out using standard procedures adopted by [10] and [11] as described by [12]; [13] and [14] for the determination of tannins, flavonoid, saponins, glycosides and steroid.

Rodent Parasite

The parasite Plasmodium berghei berghei NK65 was brought from National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos and maintained alive in mice.

Mice

A total of 20 albino mice for the study were obtained from the Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Calabar, Calabar. The mice were housed in standard cases in the laboratory and stabilized for seven days during which the mice were fed on commercial pellet and clean drinking water.

Experimental Design

At the commencement of the experiment, the mice were divided into four (4) groups of five (5) mice each labelled group A₁, A₂and B₁, B₂that will serve as the control group. The experiment was conducted in the animal house of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo.

Inoculation of the Mice

The mice were inoculated by intrapecitonial injection with standard inoculums of Plasmodium berghei berghei with 1x10⁷ infected erythrocyte five days before treatment. The mice were observed to produce clinical signs such as salivation, reduced activity, body weakness, convulsion, etc., before application of treatment.

Group A₁ and A₂ were treated for six consecutive days with 100mg and 200mg extract of Ficus exasparata 1kg body weight orally and daily respectively.

Two control groups B₁ and B₂ were used. Control group with B₁ were inoculated with the perascate but no treatment was given. Control group B₂ not inoculated and no treatment given[15].

Collection of Specimens for Examination

This treatment was applied once daily for six days. On the 6th day, the samples collected through cordial puncture using sterile syringes and needles. Bleed smear were made, stored with Giemsa for microscopic examination.

Determination of Parasitamia

This was obtained by counting the number of parasitized erythrocytes out of 20 erythrocytes in random field of the microscope. Percentage parasiteamia is calculated using the formula.

Table 1: Phytochemical Analysis of the Leaf of Ficus exasparata

S/N	PHYTOCHEMICAL	RESULT	REMARK
1	Tannins	+	Present
2	Flavonoid	+	Present
3	Saponins	+	Present
4	Phlobatannins	-	Negative
5	Glycosides	+	Present
6	Alkaloids	-	Negative
7	Steroid	+	Present

Table 2: Percentage Parasitemia for Test Group A₁

S/N	PARASITE COUNT	BODY WEIGHT	% PARASITEMIA	AV. % OF PARASITEMIA
1	8	21KG	4%	4.1%
2	9		4.5%
3	8		4%
4	8		4%
5	8		4%

Legend: P. berghei + 100mg /kg

Table 3: Percentage Parasitemia for the Test Group A₂

S/N	PARASITE COUNT	BODY WEIGHT	PARASITEMIA	AV. % OF PARASITEMIA
1	5	18KG	2.5	2.7%
2	6		3
3	5		2.5
4	5		2.5
5	6		3

Legend: P. berghei + 200mg/ kg

Table 4: Percentage Parasitemia for Control Group B₁

S/N	PARASITE COUNT	BODY WEIGHT	PARASITEMIA	AV. % OF PARASITEMIA
1	22	20KG	11	10.7%
2	20		10
3	21		10.5
4	22		11
5	22		11

Legend: P. berghei

Table 5: PPMC Between Treatment with 100mg and Control

Group	Mean	S.D	n	DF	T-Cal	Critical Value
Treatment	8.2	0.21	5
Control	21.4	0.45	5	8	-0.88	0.6319

Pearson Product Moment Correlation

Table 6: PPMC Between treatment 200mg and Control

Group	Mean	S.D	n	DF	r-Cal	Critical Value
Treatment	5.4	0.49	5
Control	21.4	0.45	5	8	-0.41	0.6319

DISCUSSION

The antiplasmodial effects of Ficus exasparata extract against Plasmodium berghei show that at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, the extract was effective by reducing the mean parasitamia in the albino mice. The suppressiveness of the extract lead to the drastic reduction of the mean parasitamia in the albino mice by 2.7% and 10.7% respectively. The use of plant extract has gone a long way in the combat of Plasmodium berghei . The work of [16] reported that the bark and seed of Khaya sensgalensis have been found to be active against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. The work of [17], also reported suppressive activity of ethanoic extract of Hyptis suoveolens against Plasmodium berghei in mice. The ethanoic leaf extract of Ficus exasparata analysed contained Tannins, Flavonoid, Saponins, Glycosides and Steriod. This is in line with [18] that reported the presence of these components in Daniella oliveri . [19] also revealed the presence of Alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and phenolic compounds. These phytochemicals present in the extracts could be responsible for antiplasmodial activity as reported by [20] who observed that Quinine, an alkaloid, is popular for its antimalarial activities against plasmodium. [21] also concluded that pure compounds with antimalarial activities are mainly alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarines, phenolics, polyacetylenes, xanthones, quinones, steriods, and lignans.

CONCLUSION

The presence of these phytochemicals in the Ethanoic extract of Ficus exsparata in this study supports the efficacy as an antimalarial for use in traditional medicine for malaria and other illness similar to malaria. A further research is recommended on the efficacy and hematological effect of the plant.

Acknowledgements

We humbly appreciate all Technologist and cleaners of Biology Laboratory, Bayelsa Medical University for their tremendous assistance in the course of this research work.

Competing Interests

No competing interests.

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