Biotechnology Journal International

This study evaluated the antiplasmodial activity and selected biochemical effects of aqueous leaf extract of Cissampelos owariensis in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. The leaves were collected, authenticated, dried, powdered and extracted with distilled water. Acute oral toxicity was assessed before antiplasmodial testing. The extract was evaluated using three experimental models: the 4-day suppressive test, prophylactic test and curative test. Extract doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg were administered orally, while normal saline served as the negative control. Chloroquine at 10 mg/kg was used as the positive control in the suppressive and curative models, and pyrimethamine at 1.2 mg/kg was used in the prophylactic model. Biochemical assays were conducted to assess catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and nitric oxide activities. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of saponins, steroids, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. No mortality was observed during acute toxicity testing at doses up to 5000 mg/kg. In the suppressive test, the extract produced dose-related chemosuppression of 43.16%, 56.35% and 61.23% at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. In the prophylactic test, chemosuppression values were 22.59%, 55.48% and 79.23% at the same doses. In the curative model, parasitaemia decreased during treatment, with the 100 mg/kg dose showing marked reduction by day 7. The extract also influenced antioxidant and nitric oxide-related biochemical markers. These findings suggest that aqueous leaf extract of Cissampelos owariensis has antiplasmodial activity in the experimental mouse model and may contain bioactive constituents worthy of further pharmacological investigation.