In-vivo antimalarial and anti-oxidative properties of methanol and ethylacetate stem bark extract from Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) infected with Plasmodium berghei

Abstract

Calotropis procera, a commonly utilized traditional medicine in Nigeria, is reputed for its antioxidant and antimalarial properties. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant, toxicological, and antiplasmodial effects of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Calotropis procera utilizing a rodent model to assess their suppressive, prophylactic, and curative effects against malaria, as well as to evaluate their safety profile. An antioxidant activity of 0.25 mg/ml was revealed by the DPPH assay, which revealed a robust antioxidant capacity that was higher than that of Vitamin C at a concentration of 0.25 mg/ml. Locke's method was used to evaluate acute toxicity. Additionally, toxicity assessments revealed a relatively non-toxic profile with no observed fatalities even at doses up to 5,000 mg/kg, indicating that it is relatively non-toxic based on Lorke's toxicity scale. The antimalarial efficacy of the extracts was assessed in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, a model organism for malaria. The methanol extract demonstrated significant antimalarial activity without inducing adverse effects at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg. Both the methanol stem bark extract and the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited curative and suppressive activities, although with minimal prophylactic effects. The results suggest that Calotropis procera extracts hold promise as potential sources for new and innovative malaria treatments. Further investigations are needed to clarify the precise mechanisms of action and to develop safe and effective therapeutic formulations.