Antiplasmodial effect and sub-acute toxicity of alkaloid, flavonoid and phenolic extracts of <i>Sida acuta</i> leaf on <i>Plasmodium berghei</i> -infected animals
Daniel P. Bliss, Sherifat Funmilola Adefolalu, Ali A. Jigam, Bashir Lawal
Abstract
The antiplasmodial and safety profile of alkaloid, flavonoid and phenol extracts of Sida acuta (300 and 600 mg/kgbw) on hepatic and renal integrity of rats were investigated. Alkaloid, flavonoid and phenol extracts produce parasitaemia suppression of 50.83%, 33.50% and 64.64%, respectively. Sub-chronic administration of the phytochemicals caused marked (p < 0.05) dose-dependent increase in erythrocytic and leucocytic indices while serum ALP, AST, ALT, albumin, urea and creatinine concentrations compared well (p > 0.05) with the controls. Total proteins, sodium and chloride levels were altered in rats treated with 300 mg/kgbw of the phytochemicals. The integrity of hepatocytes and renal cells increases with increase extract concentrations and no degenerative changes were observed in all treatment groups. However, flavonoid extract caused severe renal vacuolation at 300 mg/kgbw which cleared out at 600 mg/kgbw. Conclusively, phenol exhibited higher antiplasmodial activities and safety profile and thus could be considered a potential candidate for the development of a new drug.