Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Indigofera oblongifolia with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and chloroquine (CQ) 10 mg/kg in treating lung inflammation caused by Plasmodium chabaudi infection in a mouse model. Fifty female C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups: control, Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract (IOLE) AgNPs treated, P. chabaudi infected, infected and IOLE AgNPs treated, infected and CQ 10 mg/kg treated. Lung histopathology was assessed using microscopic analysis and immunohistochemistry investigation for TNF-α and IL-6. The results showed that the positive control of AgNPs slightly triggered proinflammatory cytokines and created an oxidative stress status in lung tissue. The group IOLE AgNPs treatment significantly restored the normal organization of the control lung tissue. It reduced alveolar and septal congestion, edema, and necrosis compared to the infected lung. Therefore I. oblongifolia as a natural medical plant displayed significant antimalarial and anti-oxidant properties effectively, reducing inflammatory signs and cytokine levels in P. chabaudi-infected lungs and treating the harmful impact of AgNPs in P. chabaudi-infected + I. oblongifolia with AgNPs lung. While CQ shows limited efficiency, it showed moderate improvement in the histological architecture such as thicker alveolar and bronchiolar walls and restricted expansion. However, the septal and alveolar congestion, hemosiderin concentration, edema, and necrotic cells were still present. Also, immunohistochemistry expression of proinflammatory cytokines is still expressed. In conclusion, this study highlights the therapeutic potential of I. oblongifolia for malaria management. Also, this study uniquely explored the combined influences of I. oblongifolia leaf extract and AgNPs on lung inflammation caused by P. chabaudi infection. Previous studies may have explored these components separately, but the current study examines their synergistic potential in treating malaria-related lung pathology. Consequently, the study compared the efficacy of I. oblongifolia with that of CQ, revealing that the latter exhibited limited efficiency due to drug resistance and its inability to restore the normal features of its histology. This comparison highlights the potential impact of I. oblongifolia as a more effective alternative in malaria treatment, particularly in cases where conventional drugs fail.