Effect of Ethanol Root-Extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum on Liver function Indices in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice

This study was designed to determine the effect of ethanol root extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum on Liver function Indices in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Liver function Indices were determined using standard methods. A total of 36 albino mice were used for the study. They were acclimatized for one week and then randomly assigned into 6 groups of A-F with 6 mice in each group. Mice in group A (Normal control) were given normal saline only. Mice in groups B-F were infected with Plasmodium berghei intra-peritoneally. Mice in group B (Standard control) were subsequently treated with standard drug (Lonart®-DS) at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight of the mice; mice in group C (Positive control) were left without treatment while mice in group D, E and F (treated groups) were treated with graded doses (200, 400 and 800 mg/Kg body weight) of ethanol root extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum respectively. All the mice were allowed free access to water and feed ad libitum. Oral route was used for the administration of the Lonart® and the extract. The treatment lasted for ten (10) days. The result showed that infection of mice with P. berghei resulted to significant (P<0.05) decrease in the body weight of the mice relative to normal control. Infection of the mice with P. berghei also caused significant (P<0.05) increase in the activities of ALT, AST and ALP and level of bilirubin while levels of albumin and total protein decreased significantly (P<0.05) relative to the normal control. However, treatment of the infected mice with graded dose of the extract (200, 400 and 800 mg/Kg) caused a reversal in the pattern of this parameters in a dose dependent manner during the treatment period to a level comparable to the level observed among the standard control group. This study indicates that ethanol root extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum contain principles that may be useful in the management of liver disorders elicited by Plasmodium berghei infection.