Effect of the Ethanol Extract of Zapoteca Portoricensis Roots on Malaria-Infected Mice

Abstract

The effect of the Zapoteca portoricensis roots on malaria was determined by checking the percentage parasitaemia, some haematological parameters such as packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), total white blood cell count (TWBC) and red blood cell count (RBC), also some biochemical parameters such as liver enzyme markers; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and kidney function markers which include urea and creatinine concentrations. The analyses were carried out using standard analytical procedures. The Zapoteca portoricensis roots were randomly collected from Umabor Ehalumona, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. The results of this study showed that the percentage yield of the ethanol extract of Zapoteca portoricensis roots was 3.18%. The acute toxicity test of the ethanol extract showed no toxicity up to 2900mg/kg body weight. The phytochemical constituents found were alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrate, steroid, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, resin, fats and oil. Treatment of infected mice with the ethanol extract of Zapoteca portoricensis roots caused mean percentage parasitaemia to reduce significantly (p < 0.05) in groups 4, 5 and 6 administered 100, 200 and 300mg/kg b.w of the extract respectively when compared to the group 2 mice (malaria untreated). Haematological parameters such as PCV, Hb concentration and RBC count significantly (p < 0.05) increased in groups 4, 5 and 6 administered 100, 200 and 300mg/kg b.w of the extract respectively when compared to group 2 (malaria untreated) but TWBC count did not change significantly (p > 0.05) in the controls, group 1 (normal control), groups 2 (malaria untreated) and 3 administered 28mg/kg b.w of artemether and lumefantrine and test groups 4 and 6 administered 100 and 300mg/kg b.w of the extract respectively. The AST activity showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in all the groups when compared to group 1 (normal control) on day 14 but significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in all the treated groups 4,5 and 6 administered 100, 200 and 300mg/kg b.w of the extract respectively when compared to group 2 mice (malaria untreated) on day 28. The ALT and ALP activities reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in all the groups when compared to group 2 mice (malaria untreated). The kidney function markers urea showed significant decrease in groups 1 (normal control), 4 and 5 administered 100 and 200mg/kg b.w of the extract respectively when compared to group 2 mice (malaria untreated). Creatinine concentration reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in groups 1 (normal control), 3 administered 28mg/kg b.w of artemether and lumefantrine and group 4 administered 100mg/kg b.w of the extract when compared to group 2 mice (malaria untreated) on day 14 but on day 28 no significant (p > 0.05) differences were observed on the creatinine concentration in all the groups when compared to group 1(normal control). These results may be useful in explaining the medicinal application of Zapoteca portoricensis roots.