In vivo antiplasmodial activities of aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark against Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice

Context: Bridelia ferruginea Benth (Euphorbiaceae) is an indigenous medicinal plant in Nigeria. It is usually a gnarled shrub which sometimes reaches the size of a tree in suitable condition. Decoctions of parts of this plant have been employed in ethno medicine in many parts of Africa for treatment of many ailments including malaria fever.

Objective: In vivo antiplasmodial activity of aqueous stem bark extract of BF was investigated against Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.

Materials and methods: The aqueous stem bark extract of BF (100–400?mg/kg) was administered orally to P. berghei-infected mice in both early and established models of antiplasmodial studies.

Results: The extract exhibited significant (p?50 obtained was greater than 5000?mg/kg in mice.

Discussion and conclusions: The findings show that aqueous stem bark extract of Bridelia ferruginea possesses considerable antiplasmodial activity which can be developed in malaria therapy.