Savanna Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 7(1):118-124
Determination of Malaria Prophylaxis in Experimentally Infected BALB/c Mice by Bioactive Constituents of an Alternative Medicinal Plant
Otuu, C. A., Eke, S. S., Nwosu, C. G., Obiezue, R. N. N., Usman-Yamman, H., Ekuma, I. C., Udeh, E. O. and 8Otuu, A. Q. A
ABSTRACT
One of the strategies employed in malaria control and possible elimination efforts is the prevention of the
establishment of malaria parasite infections using prophylactic antimalarial drugs. This strategy has been negatively
affected by the development of resistance of the malaria parasite to the currently used antimalarial drugs. This
development has increased the urgent need for new antimalarial compounds with prophylactic properties against
malaria. This study was conducted to investigate the malaria prophylactic potential of bioactive compounds from
extracts of Alstonia boonei, a medicinal plant traditionally used for malaria treatment in Nigeria and other African
countries. The bioactive compounds were identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer analysis technique
and then subjected to antimalarial tests to determine their prophylactic activity in mice experimentally infected with
Plasmodium berghei. Results from the tests showed that the bioactive compounds possess significant dose-dependent
prophylactic properties at p < 0.05 at the doses used. From these findings, it was concluded that the plant is a potential
source of prophylactic antimalarial molecules and should be further studied for antimalarial drug development.
