Evaluation of Anti-malarial Profile of Methanol Leaf Extract of Jatropha curcas Linn on Plasmodium berghei Infection in Mice

The resistance of malaria parasites to anti-malarial drugs including Artemisinin-based combination therapy is undoubtedly a huge challenge in clinical practice necessitating concerted efforts to finding novel, safe and efficacious options. This study investigated the anti-malarial activity of methanol leaf-extract of J. Curcas against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Acute toxicity and phytochemical analysis of the extract were carried out using standard methods. Peter’s 4-day suppressive, curative and residual infection tests were used to determine efficacy. Parameters measured were parasitemia, survival time, body weight and packed cell volume (PCV). Ninety albino male mice were infected with chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium berghei NK65 randomly divided into three groups of thirty and separately used for suppressive, curative and prophylactic tests. A set of thirty albino mice were divided into five groups (n=6) and subjected to suppressive test. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. Group I and 5 received distilled water and chloroquine (5 mg/kg) served as negative and positive controls, respectively. The remaining two sets of thirty mice were used for curative and prophylactic tests. Data generated was subjected to descriptive statistics and levels of significance was determined at p<0.001 to p<0.05. Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloid, carbohydrates, cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and tannins. The oral median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract in mice was >5000 mg/kg. The extract significantly decreased (p<0.05) parasitemia and enhanced survival time in treated mice. The extract minimized parasite induced weight loss and improved PCV. Methanol leaf extract of J. Curcas is safe at ≤5000 mg/kg and exhibited moderate anti-malarial activity credited to the synergistic effect of the phytochemical constituents, hence its folkloric uses.