Antimalarial potency of the leaf extract of Aspilia africana (Pers.) C.D. Adams

ObjectiveTo investigate the antimalarial activity of ethanol extract of Aspilia africana (A. africana) leaf.MethodsThe ethanol extract of A. africana leaf (100–400 mg/kg) was screened for blood schizonticidal effect against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) in mice both in early and established models of antimalarial studies.ResultsThe leaf extract exhibited significant (P<0.05) antiplasmodial activity in 4-day early infection and in established infection tests with a considerable mean survival time comparable to that of standard drug, chloroquine (10 mg/kg).ConclusionsThe findings show that ethanol extract of A. africana leaf possesses potent antiplasmodial activity which justify the use in ethnomedicine and can be developed in malaria therapy.