and antimalarial activities of the ethanol extract of stem bark used for the treatment of malaria in the Western Region of Cameroon.

Background: Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and/or mortality in tropical Africa. The spread and development of resistance to chemical antimalarial drugs and the relatively high cost of the latter are problems associated with malaria control and are reasons to promote the use of plants to meet healthcare needs to treat malaria. The aim of this study was to evaluate antiplasmodial activities of extracts of (Mah quat), which is traditionally used for the treatment of malaria in the western region of Cameroon.

Material And Methods: The ethanol extract of stem bark was obtained through the maceration process using 95% ethanol, while the aqueous extract was prepared by infusion. The antiplasmodial effect of extracts against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) strains was determined using the Trager and Jensen method. On the other hand, the antimalarial activity of the extract was evaluated in mice infected with strain NK65 using the Peters' 4-day suppressive test and Ryley test (curative test). A total of 36 mice were used, subdivided into six groups of six mice each: one normal control, a negative control, a positive control, and three other groups for the tested product. Blood samples were collected on the 10th day of each test for hematological parameters.

Results: The aqueous extract had an antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive strain with an IC of 29.51 ± 3.63 µg/mL and against the chloroquine-resistant strain with an IC of 35.23 ± 3.17 µg/mL. The highest antiplasmodial activity was observed with the ethanol extract against the chloroquine-sensitive strain with an IC of 6.44 ± 0.08 µg/mL and against the chloroquine-resistant strain with an IC of 7.53 ± 0.22 µg/mL. The ethanol extract demonstrated suppressive activity with reduction rates of 87.69%, 86.79%, and 81.08% at doses of 500 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 125 mg/kg, respectively; and curative activity with reduction rates of 80%, 78.5%, and 77.5% at doses of 500 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 125 mg/kg, respectively. The number of white blood cells in the negative control (44.55 ± 5.02 10/µL) was higher compared to the other groups. As for the red blood cells, we observed a massive destruction of the latter in the infected and untreated group (5.82 ± 1.50 10/µL) compared to the infected and ethanol extract-treated groups (8.74 ± 1.57 10/µL for 500 mg/kg, 7.54 ± 1.77 10/µL for 250 mg/kg, and 8.9 ± 1.50 10/µL for 125 mg/kg).

Conclusion: This study provides scientific data on the use of by the local population for the treatment of malaria. It shows that has antiplasmodial activity, and we also see that there are differences between the parameters that we have in the treated groups and those of the untreated group. However, toxicity tests are necessary to assess its safety.