Antiplasmodial Potential of Combination Therapy of Methanolic Bark Extracts of Terminalia avicennioides and Anogeissus leiocarpus and Its Effect on Haematological Parameters on Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Background: The resistance of Plasmodium species to drugs has necessitated the search for more potent drugs. Anogeissus leiocarpus and Terminalia avicennioides have been considered traditionally for the treatment of malaria.

Aim: This study assessed the efficacy of combination therapy of methanolic bark extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Terminalia avicennioides on malaria parasite and its effect on haematological and lipid profile on mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.

Methodology: Thirty-six mice were distributed into six groups. The first group was not infected with the parasite (normal control). The second group was infected but not treated (negative control). The third group was infected and treated with 5.0 mg/kg of Artemether-Lumefantrine (positive control), while the third, fourth and fifth groups were infected and treated with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg body weight of combined methanolic bark extracts of T. avicennioides and A. Leiocarpus respectively. Treatments were administered for four days. Blood was taken daily from the tail of mice for the assessment of parasitaemia. The animals were sacrificed on the fifth day. Whole blood and serum were collected into EDTA and plain bottles respectively. The blood in the EDTA was used to determine haematological parameters, while lipid profile was determined using serum.

Results: The results showed that the parasite clearance was highest in the group treated with 400 mg/kg and lowest in the group treated with 100 mg/kg. White blood cell, lymphocyte, haemoglobin, red blood cell and platelets levels were significantly higher (P<0.05) in normal control than in other groups. White blood cell count was lowest in the group treated with 400 mg/kg when compared with other treated groups. Haemoglobin was significantly reduced in the groups treated with 100 and 400mg/kg when compared with the group treated with 200 mg/kg. Platelet count was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the group treated with 400 mg/kg than in all other treated groups. Mean HDL and triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in the group treated with 400 mg/kg than in all other treated groups.

Conclusion: Antiplasmodial potential of combination therapy of the bark extracts of A. leiocarpus and T. avicennioides was highest at 400 mg/kg but that concentration had serious adverse effect on the lipid profile, body weight and haematological parameters on mice.