ANTI-PLASMODIAL ACTIVITY OF BLIGHIA SAPIDA LEAF EXTRACTS IN PLASMODIUM BERGHEI INFECTED MICE

Blighia sapida a tropical evergreen plant with a dense crown, is commonly called ackee apple. Traditionally, the stem backs and leaves of the plant are used in the treatment of high fever, strokes, malaria, headache and some eye ailments. This study examined the antiplasmodial activity of Blighia sapida leaf extracts in comparison with the standard antimalarial drug Artemether-Lumefantrine combination, with a view to determining the changes in the parasitemia level in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. The results showed a significant decrease in parasitemia level over six days period for mice treated with Artemether-Lumefantrine, ethanolic, and aqueous leaf extracts of B. sapida, whereas the controls showed a continuous increase. The parasitemia level was significantly reduced (P<0.05) in mice treated with 6.0mg/kg body weight of Artemether-Lumefantrine with 88% suppression; those treated with the ethanolic leaf extract at 50mg/kg and 30mg/kg body weight had parasitemia suppressed by 59% and 43.67% respectively. Parasitaemia count in mice treated with 50mg/kg and 30mg/kg body weight of aqueous leaf extract of B. sapida was suppressed by 43.83% and 40%respectively. This study reveals that ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts of Blighia sapida have promising anti-malaria activity at the concentrations used, although these were not as effective as the Artemether-Lumefantrine combination. However, the results lend credence to the ethnobotanical use of the plant for the treatment of malaria.