Abstract

Sixty albino Wistar rats were used in the in vivo study of the effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Lasianthera africana on the pharmacokinetic parameters of chloroquine. After an overnight fast, the rats were divided into two groups designated A and B. Group A was given chloroquine only (15 mg/kg) and group B received chloroquine (15 mg/ml) and L. africanaextract (200 mg/ml) concurrently. All administrations were done orally. Blood was collected through cardiac puncture under chloroform anaesthesia at 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 480 min, respectively. The serum was analyzed for chloroquine and protein using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Results obtained indicated significant (p<0.05) relative increase in t_½(115%), t_max (100%), V_d (14%) and AUC _(0-¥) (59%) and decrease in K_a (54%), K_el (53%), C_max (38%), C_L (47) and AUC_(0-8) (39%). Protein induction was relatively increased by 74%. Elemental analysis of the leaf showed high content of Na, K, Ca and Mg. Proximate analysis of the leaf revealed very high content of carbohydrate (73.36 mg/100 g) and moderate concentration (3.70 to 13.90 mg/100 g) of crude fat, crude fat, crude fibre, crude protein, ash and moisture. Phytochemical analysis proved that the leaf contains moderate amount of steroid, trace amount of flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins. The pharmacokinetics results revealed that L. africana significantly altered the pharmacokinetic parameters of chloroquine and is thus capable of altering therapeutic effect of chloroquine when administered concurrently.

Key words: Pharmacokinetics, chloroquine, Lasianthera africana.