Abstract
BACKGROUND: The increasing resistance to most antimalarial drugs suggests a need for better alternatives. This study evaluated in vivo antimalarial and liver antioxidant profile of dry plantain leaf extract (Musa paradisiaca) on mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. METHODS: Six groups of ten mice each grouped as control, P. berghei, artesunate, and P. berghei infected mice were orally administered 250,500 and 1000mg/kg Musa paradisiaca leaf extract for 5 days. Blood smears were evaluated for parasitaemia on the 10(th) day and the mice sacrificed. Catalase, Malondialdehyde, protein, Glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione was estimated using Colorimetric, Biuret and spectrophotometric methods respectively with data analyzed using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: Catalase activity (umol/ml/mins) was 24.62 ± 0.99, 10.04 ± 0.50, 19.35 ± 0.38, 22.13 ± 0.00, 22.79 ± 0.00 and 23.66 ± 0.20 while Glutathione Peroxidase(u/l) was 332.34± 0.64, 205.22± 4.61, 218.26± 0.63, 310.59± 0.00, 305.20± 0.00. and 295.97± 0.02 at Control, P.berghei, artesunate, 250mg, 500mg and1000mg extracts. Glutathione (mM) was 1.60 ± 0.12, 0.64 ± 0.09, 1.06 ± 0.16, 0.72 ± 0.00, 0.92 ± 0.00 and 1.26 ± 0.08 while Malondialdehye (uM) was 16.93 ± 3.59, 61.65 ± 1.72, 27.80 ± 0.26, 36.90 ± 0.00, 34.30 ± 0.00 and 32.68 ± 0.27 and Protein(g/dl) was 22.37 ± 1.87, 7.91 ± 0.13, 11.78 ± 1.19, 11.79 ± 0.00, 13.20 ± 0.00 and 17.04 ±0.03 at control, P.berghei, artesunate, 250mg, 500mg and1000mg respectively. CONCLUSION: The study suggested that ethanolic extract of Musa paradisiaca reduced liver oxidative stress caused by P.berghei.