Abstract: The emergence of malarial drug resistance drives the search for new agents against the disease. Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf extract was tested for antiplasmodial activity. Swiss albino mice were intraperitoneally infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65. The level of parasitaemia was monitored daily and treatment began 72 hours post-infection. Doses administered orally to the different groups were 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg extract, 25mg/kg Chloroquine (CQ) to the positive control. The negative control were infected and untreated, while the Normal control were uninfected untreated. The animals were treated daily for ten days after sighting parasites in the blood film and then observed. Pack cell volume (%PCV), bodyweight change and survival time were monitored. The extract exerted a dose dependent effect on parasitaemia, with the 300mg/kg group expressing the best effect. Phytochemicals present were flavonoids, tannins, anthraquinones, steroids, saponins, cardiac glycoside and carbohydrates. For PCV, 12% and 4% decrease was observed in the negative and positive control groups; while 8%, 7%, 7% decrease in the 100, 200, and 300mg/kg groups respectively. The normal control expressed a 1% increase in PCV. The mean body weight was compared before and after infection and the result showed a 2.5g, 0.9g, 1.3g, 0.17g, 0.63g decrease in the 100, 200, 300mg/kg, 25mg/kg CQ and negative control groups respectively. A 4.63g weight increased in the normal control. All animals in test groups survived beyond the experimental period. It is obvious that the methanol leaf extract of Eucalyptus camadulensis has antiplasmodial properties that could be exploited as alternative therapy for malaria.
Keywords: Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Plasmodium berghei NK65, Malaria, Phytochemicals, Packed Cell Volume.
Title: An evaluation of Eucalyptus camaldulensis methanolic leaf extract as an alternative therapy for Malaria
Author: Longdet Y. Ishaya, Adoyi L. Ewaoche
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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