In Vivo Antimalarial Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Tree Bark Extract of Ficus Elastica

Abstract

The phytochemical screening, antimalarial and cytotoxic activities of a medicinal plants Ficus elastica was investigated. In vivo cell-growth inhibition activities were assessed on the plant extract against Plasmodium berghei strain ANKA (PbANKA).  Phytochemical screening were done according to standard methods. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, Saponins, Glycosides, terpenoids and eugenols were all present in the extract except Steroids. The prophylactic study showed an increase in the level of significance in the graded doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of Ficus elastica compared to the negative control and reference drug of the parasitemia count. However, 400 mg/kg dose proved to be more effective than the control groups in reducing the level of Plasmodium berghei. 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the extracts (76 %, 68%, 63% and 81%) exhibited plasmodiacidal activity. Curative study of the extract against Plasmodium berghei induced malarial showed low level of significant increase (p< 0.05 )  across the graded doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of Ficus elastica compared to the negative control and reference drug with slight significant increase in the parasitemia count. Control groups of standard drug drastically reduced the level of Plasmodium berghei as recorded from the percentage inhibition with lesser effect in the graded doses of treated plant (52 %, 36%, 45% and 47%). The acute toxicity study of the animals showed no change in their normal behavior within 24hours of the Ficus elastica extract exposure, and no mortality throughout the 14days were observed.