Vol. 9, Issue 1, Part B (2022)

Author(s): Chude Chidimma Florence, Nwankwo Edith Nonye and Ezekwesili-Ofili Ozioma Josephine

Abstract: The study aimed to investigate the in vitro antiplasmodial and in vivo toxicity potential of essential oils from Mentha piperita and Ocimum gratissimum against Plasmodium falciparum, singly and in combination with antimalarial drugs. The essential oils (EOs) were obtained by steam distillation and phytochemical screening conducted using gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. Blood samples of malaria positive patients were cultured and P. falciparum identified microscopically. Micro-technique of schizont counting was used to determine the antiplasmodial baseline of the EOs and in combination with antimalarial drugs. Hematological and serum biochemical indices for in vivo toxicity assay using Wister rats were determined following WHO test procedures. Dose-response assay determined after 48 h for in vitro inhibition of maturation of trophozoites into schizonts showed that EO of M. piperita had a higher antiplasmodial activity of 6.62 ± 0.20, 10.74 ± 1.64 and 14.21 ± 0.45 µg values than O. gratissimum for IC₃₀, IC₅₀ and IC₉₀, respectively against P. falciparum. When the EOs were combined with conventional antimalarial agents, M. piperita with Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine had the highest antiplasmodial activity with inhibitory concentration values of 1.92 ± 1.00, 4.07 ± 1.34 and 6.85 ± 0.75 ݜ‡g/mL for IC₃₀, IC₅₀ and IC₉₀, respectively than O. gratissimum. In vivo hematological and biochemical studies after 14 days oral treatment showed no toxicity as a result of treatment with the oil extracts and these were significantly different (P< 0.05). The study suggests that EOs of M. piperita and O. gratissimum could act individually or synergistically with conventional antimalaria drugs as effective alternative drug candidate in human malaria treatment.

DOI: 10.22271/23487941.2022.v9.i1b.589