Effects of Artemisin and Moringa oleifera Extract Combination on CD4+ and CD8+ Percentage of Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Abstract

The study aims to determine the effect of Artimisin and Moringa oliefera leaf extract combination on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells percentage of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Both of which have a role in the elimination of intracellular Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria. Artemisin, the effective anti-malaria, kills the Plasmodium parasite through its free radicals. However, free radicals can damage immune cells such as CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and as the M. oleifera leaves contain the bioactive flavanoids quercetin and kaempferol, both being strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflamatory agents, it is hoped that they will reduce these negative effects. A post test group experimental design was employed on 6 groups of mice, 4 groups of mice infected with P. berghei, and then each administered 0.004 mg/gBW Artemisin (A), a combination of Artemisin 0.004 mg/gmBW in 0.125 mg/gBW (DK1), 0.250 mg/gBW (DK2) and 0.500 mg/gBW (DK3) of M. oleifera leaf extract, and 2 control groups of mice, one group of normal mice and another untreated group infected with P. berghei. Blood samples were collected randomly from each group on days 3 and 7, parasitemia levels were then calculated microscopically at 1000 × and the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were obtained through flowcytometry. The results indicated that the combination of Artemisin and M. oleifera leaf extract over 7 days increased the percentage of CD4+ T cells for the DK2 group by p=0.001 and the DK3 group by p=0.000 and reduced parasitemia levels by p=0.000 in DK1, DK2 and DK3 respectively, whereas, levels of CD8+ T cells did not rise. And the combination did have an effect on parasitemia levels in the treated groups (p=0.000) and the percentage of CD4+ T cells (p=0.000) but not on that for CD8+ T cells.