Antiplasmodial Activity of β-Ionone and the Effect of the Compound on Amelioration of Anaemia and Oxidative Organ Damage in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Abstract

Introduction: Owing to evolution of parasite strains that are resistant to existing antimalarial drugs, research for novel antimalarial medicines is progressing on numerous fronts.

Purpose: Herein, we evaluated the in vivo anti-Plasmodium berghei activity of β-ionone including its ameliorative potential towards P. berghei-associated anaemia and oxidative organ damage.

Methods: Mice were infected with chloroquine-sensitive strain of P. berghei and then treated with β-ionone at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight (BW) for seven days. The parasitemia, packed cell volume and redox sensitive biomarkers in the liver, brain and spleen were estimated.

Results: Our result showed that β-ionone, in a dose-dependent fashion, significantly (p < 0.05) repressed the multiplication of P. berghei. More so, the compound, at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg BW, significantly (p < 0.05) mitigated anaemia and organ damage induced by P. berghei.

Conclusion: Overall, the findings demonstrated that β-ionone has antiplasmodial actions and plays a mitigative role against P. berghei-induced anaemia and oxidative organ damage.

Keywords: Plasmodium berghei; Anaemia; Oxidative stress; β-ionone.