Phyto suppression of Plasmodium berghei Multiplication by Nauclea latifolia improves the Indices of Pancreatic Beta Cell Function and Anaemia in Experimental Mice.

Background: Malaria remains one of the major causes of childhood mortality in many parts of the world, especially in the sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Increasing chemotherapeutic failure and side effects of available antimalarial drugs have promoted the use of natural herbs for the treatment of malaria in Nigerian communities.

Objective: To study the phytosuppression of P berghei by Nauclea latifolia and its effects on the indices of anaemia and pancreatic beta cell function in experimental mice.

Methods: Fifty mice were divided into 10 groups (n=5) and used for the study. Group 1 (control) were uninfected but given placebo. Group 2 were infected with P berghei and treated with placebo. Groups 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 received N. latifolia treatment, while Groups 6 and 7 received standard chloroquine treatment. Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 were however infected with the malarial parasite. Blood samples were collected by heart puncture and prepared for the estimation of haemoglobin, insulin and glucose. The pancreatic beta cell function (HOMA-beta) was determined using the fasting serum insulin and glucose levels as documented.

Results: P. berghei malaria infection caused a significant reduction in haemoglobin that led to anaemia in the mice, There were elevated HOMA-beta) in the parasitized and chloroquine treated groups, suggesting possible pancreatic beta cell dysfunction. Treatment with N. latifolia showed parasitaemia suppression and' improved pancreatic beta cell function and haemoglobin concentrations.

Conclusion: N. latifolia contains bioactive phytochemicals that suppresses malaria parasite multiplication and improves pancreatic beta cell function.