In vivo antiplasmodial activity of ethanol leaf extract of Marrubium Vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) in Plasmodium Berghei-Berghei infected mice

Abstract

Malaria is one of the most widespread infectious diseases, taking the lives of almost one million people a year, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Marrubium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) is a flowering plant in the family of lamiaceae and is used in traditional medicine in the treatment of malaria, tuberculosis and other febrile conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the ethanol leaf extract of Marrubium vulgare in mice. The antiplasmodial activity was evaluated in mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei-berghei using curative, suppressive and prophylactic experimental animal models. Preliminary phytochemical screening and intraperitoneal median lethal dose (LD50) estimation of the extract were carried out. Data were analysed using ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test. The extract at all doses tested (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg) produced significant (p ˂ 0.001) curative (percentage parasite clearance: 60, 58 and 64%) and suppressive (chemosuppression: 66, 71 and 73) effects with minimal prophylactic (chemoprophylaxis:19, 24 and 23%) effect. The extract also significantly prolonged the survival time of the treated mice up to 22 days compared to the negative control group (11 days). The results of this study suggest that the ethanol leaf extract of Marrubium vulgare possesses curative and suppressive antiplasmodial activity in mice at the tested doses.