Phyllantus amarus (Schum. and Thonn): An Antiplasmodial Plant

The incidence of malaria infestation has assumed epidemic status and treatment procedures have failed to yield required results due to resistance of most Plasmodial species to conventional antimalarial drugs especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Phyllantus amarus (Schum and Thonn) was screened for in vivo antiplasmodial activity in albino mice. Ethanol and aqueous extracts (ETOHE and AE) were used for the assays. Phytochemical screening of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of the plant was carried out to ascertain the secondary metabolites present. Chloroquine resistant Plasmodium berghei (NK65) was injected into the mice by passaging. Forty-eight hours after inducing malaria infestation, the plant extracts were administered intraperitoneally for 4 days at a dose of 10mg/kg,same with the reference antimalarials. It was observed that the ethanol extract (ETOHE) showed the highest antiplasmodial activity comparable to that of Artemether (Group C) treated mice. There was no significant difference in antimalaria activity between the Artemether treated (Group C) and the ethanol treated (Group A) mice at p=0.01. The antiplasmodial activities of the extracts may be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals/secondary metabolites present in the aerial parts of the plant which include: alkaloids, saponins, flavonods and other secondary metabolites. The plant extracts were equally screened for their mineral contents, some of which were found to be abundant, such as Ca, Fe, Mn, K, Na, Cu and Zn. The plant extracts can be used for the treatment of malaria infestation as well the supplementation of mineral nutrients in health and disease.