In vivo antimalarial activity of Vernonia amygdalina

Extracts from the leaves and root bark of Vernonia amygdalina are assessed for antimalarial activity against drug-sensitive Plasmodium berghei in mice. A standard inoculum of 1 x 10(7) infected erythrocytes is used, and leaf and root-bark extracts of 500 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg or 125 mg/kg are used in a four-day suppression test and a Rane test of established infection. Leaf extract produced 67% suppression of parasitaemia in the four-day test, while root-bark extract produced 53.5% suppression. These results are significant when compared to a placebo (P<0.001).