Canadian Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences

Abstract: The antimalarial activity of the methanolic extract of Bridelia ferruginea benth bark was evaluated at varying doses of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg body weights in mice (Mus musculus) infected with chloroquine -sensitive Plasmodium berghei. The antimalarial activity of the extract during Prophylactic (pre-treatment before infection with the parasite), Suppressive (co-treatment with the infection of the parasite on day zero) and Rane test (established infection which involves post treatment after 72hours infection with the parasite) were investigated. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, phenolics, saponins, steroids, anthraquinones and tannins in the extract. The extract demonstrated a dose-dependent suppression of parasitaemia following administration to infected mice. An optimum dose of 400mg/kg body weight with established infection mode of treatment demonstrated 100% total clearance of parasitaemia comparing favourably with chloroquine, the reference drug over the 28 days period of observations. Conclusively, the bark extract has exhibited promising antimalarial activity which can be exploited in malaria therapy.