ASSESSMENT OF THE SUPPRESSIVE ANTIMALARIAL POTENTIAL

ABSTRACT

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. This study investigated the antimalarial property of Blumea perrottetiana aerial part infusionusing the Peter’s 4-day suppressive study. Thirty two (32) Swiss albino male mice weighing an average of 25g were distributed equally into four (4) groups namely; Normal control (Norm C), Negative control (NC), Positive control (PC) and Blumea perrottetiana (BP). The normal control group were not infected and were administered only normal saline. Animals in the other groups were infected with 1x10⁷ P.berghei and administered 25mg/kg b.wt chloroquine (PC), normal saline (NC) 100 mg/kg b.wt. of BP extract (BP) once daily for 4 days. At the end of the study which spanned for a total duration of 30 days, the mice treated with BP extract had significantly increased levels of lymphocyte, white blood cells, platelet and granulocytes. Haemoglobin and red blood cell levels were however decreased. Further, treatment with the extract caused a significant reduction in parasite growth which also reflected in the mean survival of mice as it caused an increase in mice survival suggesting that the extract has antimalarial activity.