ANTIMALARIAL ACTIVITY OF N-BUTANOL FRACTION OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF COMBRETUM HYPOPILINUM DIEL AGAINST PLASMODIUM BERGHEI INFECTED MICE

The incidence of resistance among currently available antimalarial drugs, as well as the high economic cost of malaria, has prompted researchers to look for novel antimalarial molecules. As a result, the current study was proposed to evaluate the antiplasmodial activity (in vivo) of – butanol fraction of Combretum hypopilinum diel based on the plant's traditional claims. A cold maceration procedure using 70% methanol was employed to obtain a crude extract from Combretum hypopilinum diel leaf. N - butanol, and pure water were used to fractionate the hydro ethanol extract. Standard procedures (OECD) were followed for an acute oral toxicity test. The antimalarial effects of the plant at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg doses were investigated using three rodent malaria models (4-day suppressive, curative (rane's), and prophylactic tests. To compare results between groups, a one-way ANOVA with Post Hoc Dunnett was used, and a paired t–test was used to compare pre- and post-treatment (PCV and bodyweight). In a 4-day suppressive investigation, all doses of the n-butanol fraction of crude extract suppressed parasitemia significantly (P < 0.001) as compared to the negative control. The crude extract had the greatest chemosuppressive effect (40%) at a 400 mg/kg dose. In Rane's test, all doses of the n-butanol fraction of crude extract produced substantial (P < 0.001) curative effects as compared to the negative control. In the prophylactic test, all doses of the n-butanol fraction of crude extract significantly suppressed (P < 0.001) parasitemia as compared to the negative control. According to this study, the n-butanol fractions of Combretum hypopilinum diel leaf contain antimalarial activity with a substantial suppressive effect.