Baphia nitida ethanol leaf extract restores haematological and biochemical status in P lasmodium berghei passaged rats

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Baphia nitida ethanol leaf extract (BNELE) on heamatological and biochemical indices in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Methods: A total of thirty (30) male mice were divided into 6 groups comprising of 5 mice each. Group 1 was normal control, group 2 positive control, group 3 standard group while groups 4 - 6 received 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg of BNELE, respectively. Phytochemical analysis and antimalaria effect of BNELE were investigated using standard methods. Biochemical and haematological parameters of Plasmodium berghei - infected mice given various BNELE dosages were measured using standard techniques. Results: At increasing doses (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg), BNELE produced 63.16, 39.50 and 52.86 % inhibition of parasitemia in P. berghei-passaged mice, respectively, comparable to 43.75 % by 80 mg/kg artemether, a first-line anti-malarial medication. There was significant increase in red blood cell (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC) and hemoglobulin (HB) in mice administered varying doses of BNELE compared with those in group 2 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Baphia nitida ethanol leaf extract possesses antiplasmodial properties and aids the restoration of normal haematological and biochemical states in P. berghei-infected mice. However, further and more extensive in vivo studies to ascertain it full antimalarial potentials.