Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of an aqueous extract of aerial parts of Ipomoea pes-caprea in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Extracts of Ipomoea pes-caprea were obtained from the decoction of the dried leafy stem of the plant. The extracts obtained were used for the evaluation of the antiplasmodial activity which was done according to two methods: the Rane test was used to evaluate the curative effect of the aqueous extracts of Ipomoea pes-caprea while the Peters test was used for the suppressive effect. Four concentrations of the aqueous extract (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) were administered orally during the tests. The results showed a dose-dependent decrease in parasitaemia. The dose of 200 mg/kg bwt inhibited parasitaemia with a percentage suppression equal to 50.89% without resulting in significant body weight loss of the animals (p?0.05), but showing a survival rate identical to that of chloroquine. This study showed that the aqueous extract of I. pes-caprea has antiplasmodial properties at the dose of 200 mg/kg bwt against P. berghei. It would be a good candidate to be tested in human parasite, that is, Plasmodium falciparum, for development of other antimalarial drugs.

Key words: Antiplasmodial activity, Ipomoea pes-caprea, Plasmodium berghei.