In Vivo Evaluation of Bryophyllum pinnatum Antimalarial Activity, Acute Oral Toxicity, and Impact on Pancreatic Insulin and Glucagon Expressions

This study investigated the impact of Bryophyllum pinnatum on mice infected with malaria, assessing antioxidant activity, histopathological changes, insulin and glucagon expressions by the pancreas, and toxicological alterations. Thirty mice were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 5/group). Groups 13 received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of the ethanol extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum (EEBp), respectively after infection. Group 4 (Positive Control) mice were not infected or treated (NINT). Group 5 (Negative Control) animals were infected but not treated (INT). Group 6 (Standard Control) mice were infected and treated with Lonart®DS at 20mg/kg body weight. The treatment lasted for four days. The assays for antimalarial, antioxidant and toxicological activities, along with phytochemical profiling, pancreatic histopathology and immunohistochemical staining were conducted using standard procedures and documented methods. The phytochemical screening of EEBp revealed alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, phenols, terpenoids, tannins and triterpenoids. No toxicity was observed at 5000 mg/kg. Antimalarial activity showed significant efficacy, with a mean survival time (MST) of 25.0 ± 0.8 days for the 400 mg/kg EEBp dose (MST for standard treatment = 29.3 ± 0.7) when tracked for 30 days. This dose also protected against oxidative damage in pancreatic tissue (histological score of 1/21), indicating significant treatment response. EEBp modulated insulin and glucagon expressions at doses of 200 and 400mg/kg, restoring levels to normal in infected mice. In conclusion, Bryophyllum pinnatum demonstrates potency in malaria treatment in experimental mice. However, further investigation is necessary to identify the active compounds for study as leads.