Nutritional Intervention and Therapeutic Use of Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Fruit Juice as It Clears Malaria Parasites and Replenishes Depleted Blood Levels in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Swiss Albino Mice

Abstract One of the major pathogenesis of malaria parasite infection is the invasion and destruction of the Red Blood Cells, which requires the synergistic administration of antimalarial and most times essential nutrients for effective treatment. Previous studies have shown that various non-edible parts of Azadirachta indica tree may have anti-malarial potentials, hence the investigation on the effects of edible fresh juice of Azadirachta indica fruit on various hematological parameters in addition to its potential to clear Plasmodium berghei in infected mice. The phytochemical constituents of A. indica fruit juice were carried out by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopic (GC-MS) method. Determinations of creatinine, urea, and lipid profile were carried out using Auto-analyzer. The chromatogram of GC-MS analysis of A. indica fruit juice showed four (4) peaks as follows dodecanoic acid (4.37%), oleic acid (14.19%), 13-octadecyl (17.05%) and 15-tetracosanoic acid methyl ester (47.13%) as the major constituent. The unique pathway for plasmodial fatty acid synthesis has become a possible target of drug action. Adult male mice were placed in six groups (n = 6). Group A mice were fed a normal diet and water ad libitum only while groups B to E were fed a normal diet and water ad libitum and further infected with Plasmodium berghei. The parasitemia was confirmed on the third day of infection. Groups C, D, E, and F were further given 5mg/kg body weight of Artesunate, 4.3ml/kg, 8.6 ml/kg, and 12.9 ml/kg of fruit juice respectively for fourteen days and then sacrificed. The percentage of parasitemia in infected groups was very high but treatment with Artesunate and various doses of fruit juice significantly reduced the percentage of parasitemia. Interestingly, 0.86mg/kg dose of the fruit juice caused a high significant reduction in the percentage of parasitemia comparable to the potency of Artesunate. Additionally, infection with Plasmodium berghei yielded a significant decrease in the levels of various hematological indices in the infected mice which were normalized with the administration of Artesunate and the fruit juice of Azadirachta indica. Fruit juice of Azadirachta indica has been shown to have novel dual benefits of clearing malaria parasites, serving as a blood tonic and nutritional supplement.