Abstract

Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by plasmodium parasite. It causes severe disease and death in children and pregnant women. This study aims to compare the antiplasmodial activity of alkaloid, flavonoid and saponin rich fractions (ARF, FRF, and SRF) of methanol leaf extract of Cryptolepis oblongifolia (MLECO) in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. The LD50 of the fractions was estimated using limit test (OECD guidelines 425). The curative, suppressive and prophylactic models were used for antiplasmodial study. The effect of each fraction on the Packed Cell Volume (PCV) of mice in the curative groups was determined. The data were analysed using one way and repeated measure ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s and Bonferroni post hoc tests. The oral LD50 of the fractions was estimated to be ˃5000 mg/kg. The ARF has the highest (p < 0.001) parasite clearance (17, 26.6 and 57.3%) followed by FRF (9.3, 36.3 and 36.3%) and SRF (5.1, 14.8 and 32.9%) in the curative test. The ARF protected the mice from death and produced the highest (p < 0.001) level of parasitaemia suppression. This is followed by SRF and FRF. All the fractions tested showed significant (p < 0.001) prophylactic parasite suppression. The ARF has no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the PCV levels of the treated mice. Conclusion: The ARF has the highest antiplasmodial activity followed by FRF and SRF. All the fractions have no significant effect on the hematocrit of the treated mice.