Efficacy of Stem Bark Ethanol Extract in the Treatment of Cerebral Malaria in Mice Using NK65 Strain.

Background: Cerebral malaria is one of the most severe and dangerous forms of malaria and is potentially fatal. This study was aimed at evaluating the anticerebral malaria efficacy of used by traditional healers.

Method: Fifty grams of stem bark was macerated in 1 L ethanol (95%) for 72 h. The filtrate was dried at 40°C until the obtention of a dry extract. The antimalarial test was evaluated using the Peter 4-day suppressive test and the Rane curative test. Mice were group into 6 groups of 6 mice each. For the antioxidant test, parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and nitric oxide (NO) were assessed. The livers of mice were crushed and centrifuged in order to be measured. Aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) using the Dutch Diagnostics Kit and blood were collected for haematological parameters.

Results: The ethanol extract showed a suppressive activity of 78.12%, 75.30%, and 68.69% at 500 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 125 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, the curative activity showed a statistically significant reduction in parasitemia ( < 0.05). Antioxidant parameter assays showed a low value of MDA and a high value of SOD, CAT, NO, and GSH in the negative control group. A statistically significant higher values of ASAT and ALAT were observed in the negative control compared to the other test groups ( < 0.05). Haematological parameters showed a statistically significant decrease in white blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin, and platelets in the negative control group ( < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study justify the traditional usage of in the treatment of cerebral malaria. However, toxicity assessment is still necessary to verify its safeness.