Antiplasmodial Activities of Methanol Leaf Extract of Tithonia diversifolia, and It’s Toxicity Effect on Swiss Albino Mice

Due the ceaseless use of plants in the treatment of diseases by indigenous people of various countries and continents, it is necessary to evaluate possible health risks associated with the consumption of crude preparation of various parts of plants. This study has been aimed at evaluating the antiplasmodial activities of methanol extract of dried leaf of Tithonia diversifolia and its toxicity effect using swiss albino mice. The antiplasmodal effect of methanol extract of Tithonial diversifolia were evaluated in swiss albino mice infected with chloroquine sensitive plasmodium berghei. Result showed a dose dependent blood schizonticidal activity. The in vivo antiplasmodial effect of the extract (100,200, and 400 mg/kg.body weight) against P. berghei showed significant increase (p<0.05) in dose dependent activity for curative test, significant increase in percentage parasitaemia clearance as 66.39%, 70.40%, and 78.94% respectively. Extract showed a significant increase in the white blood cell and red blood cell (P<0.05), also a significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in potassium ion and alkaline phosphatase concentration. The result of this study suggests that the extract have a considerable antimalaria property but the adverse effect on the function of liver and kidney, if used indiscriminately may be lethal.