Evaluation of the Antiplasmodial Potential of the Aqueous Leaf Extract of Ricinus communis L (Euphorbiaceae)

Aim: As the problem of resistance to antiplasmodial agents persists, the need to develop new and more effective drugs continue to arise. The antiplasmodial potential of the aqueous leaf extract of Ricinus communis using Albino mice injected with Plasmodium berghei NK65 was studied using the suppressive, prophylactic and curative models.

Methods: Animals were divided into five groups consisting of six mice each. Artesunate (5mg/kg/day) and pyrimethamine (1.2mg/kg/day) served as positive controls while distilled water (10ml/kg/day) served as negative control. The extract was administered at doses of 73, 145 and 217mg/kg/day through the intraperitoneal route.

Results: Results obtained showed that the extract achieved a Chemosuppression of 81.50% 89.90% and 92.90% which are greater than that achieved by the standard drug pyrimethamine in the prophylactic model experiment.

Conclusion: The leaf of R. communis has good potentials for the development of a new antiplasmodial.