Aim of the study: Antiplasmodial and analgesic activities of leaf extract and fractions of Acalypha wilkensiana were evaluated to ascertain the folkloric claim of its antimalarial and analgesic activities.
Materials and methods: The crude leaf extract (220-659 mg/kg) and fractions (chloroform and aqueous; 440 mg/kg) of Acalypha wilkensiana were investigated for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infections in mice and for analgesic activity against chemical and heat-induced pains. The antiplasmodial activity during early and established infections as well as prophylactic activity were investigated. Chloroquine (5mg/kg) and pyrimethamine (1.2mg/kg) were used as positive controls. Thin films made from tail blood of each mouse were used to assess the level of parasitaemia of the mice. Analgesic activity of the crude extract was also evaluated against acetic acid, formalin and heat-induced pains.
Results: The extract and its fractions dose-dependently reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infection in prophylactic, suppressive and curative models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (p<0.001). They also improved the mean survival time (MST) from 16 to 22 days relative to control (p<0.01-0.001). The activities of extract/fractions were incomparable to that of the standard drugs used (chloroquine and pyrimethamine). On chemically and thermally induced pains, the extract inhibited acetic acid and formalin-induced inflammation as well as hot plate-induced pain in mice. These inhibitions were statistically significant (p<0.001) and in a dose-dependent fashion.
Conclusion: The antiparasitaemic and analgesic effects may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant.
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