Activity of ethanolic extract of Clerodendrum violaceum leaves against Plasmodium berghei in mice

Abstract

The antimalarial potential of the ethanolic extract of Clerodendrum violaceum leaves (13 mg/kg body weight) was investigated in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Hematol. indexes including the red blood cell indexes, the white blood cell indexes and platelet count were also evaluated on days 3, 8 and 14 after infection. Phytochem. screening revealed a predominance of alkaloids (3.68%), and phenolics (2.78%) in the extract The extract suppressed parasitemia following administration to infected mice by 92.3% on day 14 post-infection. The infected extract-treated animals had significantly higher (P<0.05) red blood cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), Hb concentration (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), and platelet count than the infected untreated animals. The results suggest that the extract possesses considerable antimalarial activity and may induce synthesis of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These results support further studies on Clerodendrum violaceum leaf as a source of antimalarial remedy.