Methanol Extract of Ficus trigonata Stem Bark Demonstrated Antiplasmodial Activity in Mice

Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites, remains a global health concern, with drug resistance complicating control efforts. Plant-derived compounds have emerged as potential antimalarial agents. This study explores the effectiveness of methanol extract of Ficus trigonata stem bark against Plasmodium berghei in a murine model. Thirty (30) adult mice used in this study were divided into 5 groups of 6 mice per group. Group A was inoculated with P. berghei and not treated which served as negative control. Group B was inoculated and treated with 10mg/Kg body weight of chloroquine (standard control). Groups C, D and E were inoculated with Plasmodium berghei and treated with the extract in doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight respectively. Parameters such as Packed cell volume (PCV) was measured by hematocrit technique, Parasitemia levels were monitored by microscopy, and Chemo-suppression activity was calculated to assess antiplasmodial potential. The in vivo murine model that was used enables efficient preliminary screening with good predictive validity. Ficus trigonata stem bark extract showed dose-dependent antiplasmodial activity in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. All doses (100-300mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) increased the level of packed cell volume on days 1-3 post-treatment. Parasitemia levels reduced significantly (p<0.05), with 300 mg/kg approaching chloroquine efficacy. Impressive dose-dependent chemo-suppression reached 85.68% with the highest F. trigonata stem bark extract dose by day 4, nearing the 94.16% standard drug activity. These findings highlight the extract's potential as an antimalarial agent and contribute to the search for alternative treatments.