Additive Effect of Some Medicinal Plants Extracts Used for the Treatment of Malaria in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria remains a threat and exert economic and social burdens in most communities in Africa. Medicinal plants have played an important role in the treatment of malaria worldwide. Several studies have shown that, the efficacies of most antimalarial agents are compromised by the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium species. This research was aimed at evaluating the synergistic effect of some medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria. Three (3) plants samples were collected and used for the study. They include Azadirachta indica, Carica papaya and Psidium guajava leaves. They were dried and extracted using 50% methanol. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of three (3) plant extracts was carried out using standard methods. The individual extracts and their combinations were subjected to in vivo antiplasmodial activity. Synergistic effect was determined by checkboard method. Phytochemical screening of Azadirachta indica, Carica papaya and Psidium guajava leaves methanol extracts all revealed the presence of phenols, tannins and glycosides in all the extracts. Extract combination of Carica papaya and Psidium guajava demostrated 100% reduction of parasitemia at both 100 and 200 mg/kg b. wt respectively after 72-hour treatment. Determination of synergistic activity showed that Fractional Activity Index (FAI) of Carica papaya and Psidium guajava is greater than 1.0, hence the effect was considered to be additive. The findings of this study had provided scientific bases supporting the traditional use of the plants for the treatment of malaria.