COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF THE METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA AND AN ARTEMISININ COMBINATION THERAPY (ACT) IN THE TREATMENT OF PLASMODIUM BERGHEI INFECTION IN MICE

This study investigated the comparative efficacy of different doses of the methanol leafextract of Artemisia annua and a brand of ACT antimalarial drug, in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. A total of thirty albino mice weighing between 20g and 40g were used for the study. They were randomly assigned into six groups (I-VI) of five mice each. All mice in groups I-V were infected with 1 10^5 Plasmodium berghei suspended in 0.2 ml of phosphate-buffered saline. Group V was left untreated, whereas group VI served as the uninfected untreated control. Groups I, II, and III were treated respectively with 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg of Artemisia annua methanol leaf extract for 4 days. Group IV was treated with 56 mg/kg ACT antimalarial drug, every day for 4 days. Parasitaemia, packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin concentration (HB), were used to assess the efficacy of treatment. The Total leucocyte count (TLC) and Differential leucocyte count (DLC) were also determined. Parasitaemia became evident in all infected mice on day 7 PI. Parasitaemia was increased in groups I and II after treatment but was significantly decreased in groups III and IV. An overall significant decrease (P<0.05) in haemoglobin and PCV was seen, particularly in groups I, II, and V. However, a significantincrease (P <0.05) in TLC was seen in all infected animals, with a sustained increase in groups I, II, and V after treatment. The infection caused a significant increase (P< 0.05) in absolute lymphocyte, eosinophil, and monocyte counts of all infected groups, with a sustained increase in groups I, II, and V even after treatment. It is therefore concluded that the methanol leaf extract of Artemisia annua had significant efficacy as the ACT against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice at a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight and justified its continual use as an herbal remedy against malaria in humans.