• Printed Journal
  • Indexed Journal
  • Refereed Journal
  • Peer Reviewed Journal
Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Vol. 4, Issue 4 (2015)

Investigation into the anti-malarial activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Nauclea latifolia (Rubiaceae) using curative method

Author(s):

Anowi Chinedu Fredrick, Chibueze Ike, Emmanuel Ezeokafor, Anikpe Nwabunwanne Alloysius

Abstract:
Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that infect about 154 to 289 million people per year, resulting in approximately 660,000 – 2million deaths worldwide. Infants, children, and pregnant females, along with immune-suppressed patients are at higher risk for worse outcomes when infected with malaria parasites. Malaria is a particular problem and a major one in areas of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. To solve this problem, the natives of Ogidi in Anambra state of Nigeria use herbs to cure malaria and one of such herbs is Nauclea latifolia. With the rising problems of side effects, cost and limited efficacy of anti-malarial drugs, there is an urgent need for the development of alternative anti-malarial substances and researchers are nowadays turning to natural products from plants, as their main source of bioactive compounds with anti-malarial properties to complement the existing synthetic anti-malarials that are gradually becoming less potent against pathogenic parasites. Hence, there is the need for the phytochemical screening and investigations into the anti-malarial potential of the leaves extracts of Nauclea latifolia as it is claimed by Ogidi people to have antimalarial activity The leaves of Nauclea latifolia were collected and dried at ambient temperature and pulverized. Exactly 500 g of the powdered drug was extracted with 1000ml of water using the cold maceration technique for 48hours with occasional shaking. This was filtered and the procedure repeated with the marc. The combined filtrates were concentrated under reduced pressure with rotary evaporator. The preliminary phytochemical tests were carried out using standard methods. The anti-malarial screening was conducted using the curative test (established infection) method to assess the efficacy of the extract as therapeutic agent. The following secondary metabolites were present - flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, Carbohydrates, steroids and terpenoids. The aqueous extract exhibited complete elimination of all the parasites present (100% cure) From the research, it is found that the aqueous extract of the Nauclea latifolia is an effective anti-malarial agent as claimed by the natives of Ogidi people.rn

Pages: 68-71  |  3061 Views  532 Downloads


Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
How to cite this article:
Anowi Chinedu Fredrick, Chibueze Ike, Emmanuel Ezeokafor, Anikpe Nwabunwanne Alloysius. Investigation into the anti-malarial activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Nauclea latifolia (Rubiaceae) using curative method. J Pharmacogn Phytochem 2015;4(4):68-71.

Important Publications Links
Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry Pharmacognosy

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Call for book chapter