The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2020;9(2):83-88 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2020.9202

Research Article

Markhamia tomentosa enhanced the antimalarial activity of chloroquine and amodiaquine in chloroquine resistant P. berghei infected mice

Bankole AE¹ , Abiodun OO²

Bankole AE,Abiodun OO

1. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, P.M.B 1029 UNILAG Post Office, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria
2. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 18th December, 2019 / Published : 3rd February, 2020

Abstract

The prevalence of malaria is on a steady increase in Nigeria. However, people residing in the areas of high malaria transmission use medicinal plants in combination with standard antimalarial drugs. This study aimed to investigate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Markhamia tomentosa (Benth.) K. Schum. Ex Engl. (Bignoniaceae) on the antimalarial activity of standard antimalarial drugs using Peter’s 4-day suppressive test. Also, identify the chemical constituents of n- hexane fraction of the plant using GC-MS spectrometry was identified. Standard antimalarial drugs [chloroquine, amodiaquine (10 mg/kg/day) and artesunate/amodiaquine (4/10 mg/kg)] were combined with 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day extract of M. tomentosa once daily for 3 days using a 4-day suppressive test. Survival of animals were assessed till day 21 (D 21). Combination of amodiaquine (AQ) and M. tomentosa or artesunate amodiaquine (AS/AQ) and M. tomentosa (100-500 mg/kg) significantly reduced chemosuppression of parasite growth. On D 14 p.i. chemosuppression of parasite growth in infected mice treated with the combination of amodiaquine (AQ) and M. tomentosa group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher (78-88%) than mice treated with AQ alone (67%). In addition, combination of chloroquine and MT at 200 or 500 mg/kg (71.09 - 91.66%) produced significant chemosuppression of parasite growth than chloroquine (CQ) alone (0.0 – 19.06%) on day 12 and 14. Likewise higher survival of experimental mice was observed in CQ + 500 mg/kg MT than animals treated with CQ alone. Analysis of the n-hexane fraction with GC-MS revealed fifteen constituents, Heptadecane and Hexadecane were the most prominent (20.49% and 35.55%) respectively. M. tomentosa augments the antimalarial activity of chloroquine and amodiaquine in mice infected with chloroquineresistant P. berghei ANKA strain.