Phytochemical Analysis and In vivo Evaluation of Individual Activity of Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Azadirachta indica, Senna occidentalis and Momordica balsamina against Plasmodium berghei Infected Mice

Abstract

Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in tropics and subtropics region with Nigeria accounting for the highest proportions in Africa. This is accompanied with emerging resistance to available drugs, posing it a public health concern. This study is aimed at determining the invivo activity of the individual ethanolic leaf extracts of the Azadirachta indica, Senna occidentalis and Momordica balsamina. The leaves of A. indica, S. occidentalis and M. balsamina were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. Ethanolic extraction of leaves of plants was carried out and invivo evaluation of the individual activity of extracts determined using standard procedures. 55 mice were randomly divided into 11 groups lettered A – K; positive group, negative group and 9 extract groups. Results showed that M. balsamina had the highest yield of 7.6%, followed by A. indica with 6.5% and S. occidentalis with 5.7%. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presences of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, phenolics and tannin in all plants. The comparison of the individual study groups showed that Senna occidentalis is more effective at 600mg/kg dosage and prolonged survival of the mice in its group in the study period. This plant possessed significant (P-value <0.05) antiplasmodial activity, thus lowered parasitaemia in infected mice.