Abstract

ACTIVITY OF POLYHERBAL MHB -21 AGAINST MALARIA PARASITE INFECTION IN MICE

Onwusonye J. C.*, Kalu M. U. and Amaralam E. C.

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Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of MHB-21, a novel polyherbal formula made from selected African medicinal plants on chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei infection in mice in order to see if it could serve as a potent malaria remedy in the face of synthetic antimalarial drug resistance, recrudescence and high cost of standard drugs witnessed today in this part of the globe. The herbal formula was screened for blood schizontocidal activity against chloroquinesensitive plasmodium berghei infection in the mice. The schizontocidal activity was studied in early and established malaria infection. The repository activity was also investigated. Results showed that MHB-21 had a dose dependent blood schizontocidal activity in the chemosupressive, prophylactic and curative antimalarial studies. For instance, when the dosage was increased from 400 to 800 mg/kg/day, chemosupressive activity of MHB-21 increased from 67.0% to 83.1%. There was a corresponding increase from 61.2% to 77.5% for the repository activity and from 70.2% to 89.6% for the curative activity. The schizontocidal activities of the herbal formula observed in this study were very similar to those observed for the standard drugs chloroquine phosphate and artesunate. It was therefore concluded that the herbal formula has significant antimalarial potency and could be standardized for the treatment of malaria and its associated complications in man.

Keywords: Antiplasmodial activity, MHB-21, Plasmodium berghei, Mice. Multiherbal formula.