Abstract
Sida cordifolia has been used to treat malaria in Ghana albeit without scientific evidence of antimalarial activity and safety. This work aimed to assess the antimalarial properties and acute toxicity of the aqueous leaf extract of S. cordifolia in murine models. Aqueous extract of the plant was analysed for both suppressive and curative antimalarial properties in chloroquine-sensitive ANKA strains of rodent Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Acute toxicity evaluation was performed in rats according to the OECD 425 guidelines. The extract displayed antiplasmodial activity in vivo with ED(50) of 117.49 ± 15.22 mg/kg and 144.84 ± 18.17 mg/kg in suppressive and curative studies, respectively. The highest % parasitaemia suppression exerted was 76.90 ± 0.64% and 61.50 ± 0.97%, respectively, in the suppressive and curative studies. Survival of infected mice treated with the extract was significantly prolonged. This was dependent on the dose of the extract but imperfectly related to the % parasitaemia suppression. Related antimalarial parameters including percentage hematocrit, changes in body weight, and temperature of experimental mice indicated alleviation of malarial symptoms of treated animals. The extract did not show toxicity in rats. Sida cordifolia L. has antimalarial properties, and was safe. It suppressed parasitaemia in both suppressive and curative studies, was not toxic to animals and prolonged the life of infected animals under treatment. This, therefore, justifies the traditional use of S. cordifolia for the treatment of malaria in Ghana.