European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

SERUM CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDE LEVELS IN PLASMODIUM BERGHEI INFECTED MICE TREATED WITH ETHANOLIC AND AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF PHYLLANTHUS AMARUS

Ezeh Ajiri Caleb, Daubry Tarela Melish Elias*, Toloyai Pere-Ebi Yabrade, Uzuegbu Ugochukwu Eyinanya, Adolor Oscar Ejiro

ABSTRACT

Phyllanthus amarus is a medicinal plant used to treat several disease conditions including malarial infection. The antilipidemic effects of ethanolic and aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus on serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in Plasmodium berghei infected mice is investigated. Forty two (42) adult male Swiss albino mice weighing 20-30g were divided into six (6) groups (n= 7). Group 1: Control (uninfected and untreated), Group 2: Negative control (infected with P. berghei and untreated), Group 3: P. berghei infected and treated with chloroquine (25mg/kg), Group 4-6: P. berghei infected and treated respectively with 150, 300 and 450mg/kg of ethanolic and aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus. The animals were treated for seven days and sacrificed after an overnight fast on the 8th day by cervical dislocation. Blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture, centrifuged to obtain serum for biochemical analysis. Data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with significant level at P<0.05. Result shows that P. berghei malaria infection significantly (P<0.05) increased cholesterol (233.33±12.55mg/dl), but reduced (P<0.05) triglyceride levels (59.00±4.16mg/dl) when compared with control values (CHOL:145.67±7.88mg/dl; TAG:162.33±6.96mg/dl). Results indicate that malarial infection causes liver dysfunction. However treatment with P. amarus leaf extract and chloroquine restores the serum lipids toward normal control values as seen in this study.

Keywords: Phyllanthus amarus; Plasmodium berghei; Cholesterol; Triglyceride.