Antiplasmodial activity of Tetracarpidium conophorum in Swiss Mice

In this book, antiplasmodial activity of ethanolic raw seed extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum in swiss albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei (NK65)was carried out. Standard methods were employed to determine the acute toxicity test and antiplasmodial activity. The experimental mice were acclimatized for seven days before the commencement of the treatments. The mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei and treated for four consecutive days with graded dosages (200, 400, 600mg/kg body weight)of the T.conophorum extract. Parasitemia in all the infected and treated experimental mice was significantly low (P 0.05) compared with the infected but untreated mice (group A).The presence of alkaloids in the ethanolic seed extract has been reported to enhance its antiplasmodial activity.This study has shown that the ethanolic seed extract of T.conophorum possess antiplasmodial activities and also safe for use. This book will provide insight on the control of malaria infection using herbal methods(Tetracarpidium conophorum) other than the orthodox means, as Plasmodium parasite have been found to be resistant to orthodox drugs such as chloroquine,mefloquine,arteminisin compounds.