Effect of Aqueous Extract of Lannea acida and Chloroquine on Lipid Profile Levels in the Liver and Kidneys of Rats Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Abstract

Lannea acida belongs to the genus in the family of Anacardiaceae. It is a deciduous tree and is used in traditional medicine of several ailment and various infections. The present study investigates the antiplasmodial effect of the aqueous bark extract of L. acida on rats infected with Plasmodium berghei in order to ascertain its lipid profile levels. The aqueous extract of Lannea acida was administered orally to healthy and malaria infected mice at 200, 250 and 300 mg/kg body weight daily for 6 days compared with chloroquine. The rate of parasite clearance was higher in the group treated with aqueous extract of Lannea acida the group treated with chloroquine. Liver and kidney triglyceride, total cholesterol and HDL – cholesterol were significantly (p=0.05) higher in groups treated with chloroquine while HDL – cholesterol level was higher in groups treated with aqueous extract of Lannea acida than the group treated with chloroquine. This study shows that the aqueous extract of Lannea acida has a high potential for antiplasmodial activity and capable of increasing cholesterol level in malaria – infected organisms.