Effects of Hydro-ethanolic Leaf Extract of Tithonia diversifolia on Parasitaemia Level, Serum Metabolites and Histopathology of Organs in Swiss Albino Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65

This study was aimed to determine the antiplasmodial, biochemical and histopathological activities of hydroethanolic leaf extract of Tithonia diversifolia in Swiss albino mice infected with P. berghei NK65. Thirty (30) mice were randomly distributed into six groups of five mice each. Groups A, B and C were infected with P. berghei and treated with 0.2 mL of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg body weight of T. diversifolia extract respectively. Group D (positive control) was infected with P. berghei and treated with 0.2 mL of 5 mg/kg body weight of chloroquine. Group E (negative control) was infected with P. berghei and treated with 0.2 mL of normal saline while group F (normal control) was not infected and administered with 0.2 mL of normal saline for four consecutive days. Blood samples and selected organs were collected using standard procedure. Biochemical analysis and histopathological evaluation of the organs were also carried out according to the standard methods. The ethanolic leaf extract of T. diversifolia produced average parasitaemia level of 1489.37, 1318.25 and 136.75 at doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg body weight in groups A, B and C respectively. Group D (positive control) and group E (negative control) having 0 and 3607 parasitaemia respectively. The AST, bilirubin, triglyceride, urea and creatinine were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the treatment. However, significantly higher (p<0.05) level of ALT and cholesterol were recorded in group E. Light microscope examination of liver and kidney tissue of mice treated with extract did not show any structural abnormality. This study shows that the hydro ethanolic leaf extract of T. diversifolia has antiplasmodial effect and may not exact toxic effect on the internal organs.