Prophylactic antimalarial effects of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (Poaceae) in a mouse model of Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection: normalisation of haematological and serum biochemical status

Raymond Bess Bila 1, *, Germain Sotoing Taiwe 1, David Denis Feugaing Sofeu 2, Orelien Sylvain Mtopi Bopda 1, Hart Mann Alain Youbi Mambou 1, Seraphin Nji Ombel Musa 1, Liliane Laure Toukam 3 and Helen Kuokuo Kimbi 1, 4

1 Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon
2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon
3 Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
4 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
 
Research Article
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2021, 15(01), 005-017.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2021.15.1.0084
Publication history: 
Received on 13 February 2021; revised on 20 March 2021; accepted on 22 March 2021
 
Abstract: 
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (Poaceae) is a medicinal plant known for its antimalarial, antipyretic and antifatigue activities in Cameroonian folk medicine.
Aim of the study: The aim of this work was to evaluate the prophylactic antimalarial effects of the decoction prepared from the leaves of Cymbopogon citratus on Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in mice and investigate its action on haematological and serum biochemical status.
Materials and methods: Swiss mice were treated with Cymbopogon citratus leaf decoction (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and later inoculated with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. The prophylactic antimalarial activity of the decoction was evaluated by determining the parasitaemia, percentage chemosuppression, body weight, body temperature, food and water intake in pretreated parasitised mice. The possible ameliorative effects of the decoction on malaria associated haematological and serum biochemical changes were also assessed.
Results: The decoction exhibited a prophylactic activity of 85.32% and its chemotherapeutic effects ranged from 56.88 – 85.32% with maximum effect observed at the highest experimental dose. It significantly inhibited parasitaemia (P < 0.001) compared to the negative control group.   Interestingly, treatment of parasitised mice with the decoction significantly restored the malaria modified haematological and biochemical status compared with distilled water-treated parasitised mice.
Conclusion: The results of this prophylactic assay indicated that Cymbopogon citratus decoction has antimalarial effects and normalised haematological and serum biochemical aberrations generated by malaria. Hence, Cymbopogon citratus represents a promising source of new antimalarial agents.
 
Keywords: 
Cymbopogon citratus; malaria prophylaxis; haematological and biochemical; mouse model.
 
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Copyright information: 
Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0

 

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