Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part A (2021)

Author(s): Maitera ON, Omolade O, Suberu EO and Dr. Mshelia EH

Abstract: The incidence, mortality and morbidity rate of malaria infection is on the increase across the globe affecting over 300 million people per population causing over 1 million related deaths annually. Evidence exists indicating that malaria parasites depletes essential metals including Zinc and Magnesium among others required for the normal functions of the body during infection. More worrisome is the compounded burden of malaria by the recent emergent of resistant strains of plasmodia to conventional anti-malaria drugs including chloroquine, quinine and artemisinin derivatives among others. Intriguely, medicinal plants including Carica papaya, Psidium guajava and Vernonia amygdalina among others have been used since ancient times in the treatment of malaria infection which though have been speculated to affect the levels of essential metals including Zinc and Magnesium among others but the molecular mechanisms underlying the efficacies of these plants remained elusive. This study therefore investigated the effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Carica papaya, Psidium guajava, Vernonia amygdalina and the composite on essential metals levels (Zn and Mg) of plasmodium berghei infected rats treated with 200 mg/kg body weight ethanol leaf extracts of these plants for 20 days using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Vernonia amygdalina caused statistical significant Zinc and Magnesium induction in the plasmodium berghei infected treated rats whilst 10-25% Zinc induction was observed in the composite treated rats. 5% - 31% magnesium induction was observed in Carica papaya, Psidium guajava and the composite treated rats. These findings may be relevant in the quest for alternative drugs for the treatment and chemoprevention of malaria.