Comparative Effect of Aqueous Extract of Psidium guajava Leaves and Arthemetar/Lumefantrine (coartem) on non-targeted parameters in Plasmodium berghei- Infected Mice

Abstract Objective To study the effect of aqueous extract of Psidium guajava and arthemeter/lumefantrine (coartem) on non-targeted parameters in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Methods Twenty five mice (out of thirty mice weighing between 30 and 35 g) were intraperitoneally infected with 0.2 ml of 1x105/ml parasitized erythrocytes of Plasmodium berghei (NK 65 strain) and randomly grouped into six (G2-G6) with five (5) mice each. G1 (normal control) received distilled water and animal feed. G2 (parasite control) received 1ml of distilled water daily. Groups (G3-G6) were treated with 28 mg/kg b.w of coartem, 200 mg/kg b.w, 400 mg/kg b.w and 600 mg/kg b.w of Psidium guajava extract respectively. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS-21 statistical software. A p < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results The Psidium guajava aqueous extract revealed presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids and flavonoids. All the groups treated with Psidium guajava aqueous extract showed a dose-dependent significant (p < 0.05) increase in percentage clearance rate of the malaria parasite, PCV, HB, and RBC count, antioxidant status, antioxidant enzymes activities and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in MDA level, ALP, AST and ALT activities as against the coartem treated and the parasite control groups. Conclusion Aqueous extract of Psidium guajava leaf could be useful in the treatment of diseases and symptoms caused by plasmodium parasites, especially berghei species with milder side effects than coartem.