Evaluation of Antimalarial and Toxicity Potentials of Methanolic fraction of cocos nucifera (West African Tall variety) husk fibre extract in animal models
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Date
2013-03
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Publisher
Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria
Abstract
The antimalarial and toxicity potentials of the methanolic fraction of Cocos nucifera (West African tall variety) husk fibre extract were investigated using animal models. For the 4-day suppressive antimalarial test, thirty Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected mice were randomly divided into six groups (A-F) with five mice each. Mice in group A (control) received orally appropriate volume of distilled water while those in group B were orally administered chloroquine (20 mg/Kg body weight) for three days post-inoculation. Mice in groups C-F were orally administered 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/Kg body weight of the extract fraction for three days post-inoculation. For toxicological studies, twenty albino rats were randomly divided into four groups (G-J) with five rats each. Rats in group G (control) were orally administered appropriate volume of distilled water while those in groups H-J were orally administered 25, 50 and 100 mg/Kg body weight of the extract fraction respectively for fourteen days. At the end of the experimental period, venous blood was collected and selected tissues isolated and homogenized. The full blood count and activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase in the tissues were determined. The results revealed that the methanolic fraction of C. nucifera (West African Tall variety) husk fibre extract does not possess any antimalarial activity. The extract, at all doses administered, had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the red blood cell indices, white blood cell indices and the activities of all the enzymes in the liver, kidney, heart and brain compared to controls. The results thus suggest that the methanolic fraction of the husk fibre extract may not be responsible for the acclaimed antimalarial action of C. nucifera (West African Tall variety) husk fibre, though it may not aggravate the severity of the disease.
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Keywords
Cocos nucifera, Plasmodium berghei, antiplasmodial, haematology, biochemical assays, animal model
Citation
Ugbomoiko U.S, Awoniyi M.A, Balogun E.A, Malomo S.O, Soladoye A.O, Adebayo J.O, Kolawole O.M, Oguntoye O.S, Olatunji L.A, Babatunde A.S, Akinola O.B. (2013). Evaluation of Antimalarial and Toxicity Potentials of Methanolic fraction of cocos nucifera (West African Tall variety) husk fibre extract in animal models. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology. 34(1); 35-40.