OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antimalarial and antiulcerogenic activities of leaf extract and fractions of Melanthera scandens (M. scandens).

METHODSThe crude leaf extract (37-111 mg/kg) and fractions (chloroform, ethylacetate and methanol; 78 mg/kg) of M. scadens were investigated for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei infections in mice and for antiulcer activity against experimentally-induced ulcers. The antimalarial activity during early and established infections as well as prophylactic was investigated. Artesunate (5 mg/kg) and pyrimethamine (1.2 mg/kg) were used as positive controls. Thin films made from tail blood of each mouse were used to assess the level of parasitaemia of the mice. Antiulcer activity of the crude extract was also evaluated against indomethacin, ethanol and histamine induced ulcers.

RESULTSThe extract and its fractions dose-dependently reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei infection in prophylactic, suppressive and curative models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (P<0.001). They also improved the mean survival time (MST) from 9.28 to 17.73 days as compared with the control (P<0.01-0.001). The activities of extract/fractions were incomparable to that of the standard drugs i.e. artesunate and pyrimethamine. On experimentally-induced ulcers, the extract inhibited indomethacin, ethanol and histamine induced ulcers. These inhibitions were statistically significant (P<0.001) and in a dose-dependent fashion.

CONCLUSIONSThe antiplasmodial and antiulcerogenic effects of this plant may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant.

Animals ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Antimalarials ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Malaria ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Peptic Ulcer ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plasmodium berghei ; drug effects ; Rats ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of leaf extract of Melanthera scandens (M. scandens).

METHODSThe crude leaf extract (39-111 mg/kg) of M. scandens was investigated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities using various experimental models. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using carragenin, egg-albumin induced oedema models, while acetic acid, formalin-induced paw licking and thermal-induced pain models were used to evaluate the antinociceptive property.

RESULTSThe extract caused a significant (P<0.05 - 0.001) dose-dependent reduction of inflammation and pains induced by different agents used.

CONCLUSIONSThe leaf extract possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects which may be mediated through the phytochemical constituents of the plant.

Acetic Acid ; toxicity ; Albumins ; adverse effects ; Analgesics ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Asteraceae ; metabolism ; Carrageenan ; toxicity ; Edema ; drug therapy ; Formaldehyde ; toxicity ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Pain ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Phytochemicals ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism