In-vivo Anti-plasmodial Activity of Mama Decoction® with or without Paracetamol in Mice

Abstract

Mama Decoction® (MD) is an aqueous antimalarial herbal preparation obtained from combination of Mangifera indica, Alstonia 
boonei, Morinda lucida and Azadirachta indica leaves with each component plant reported to have anti-plasmodial activity. 
Management of plasmodial infections is usually accompanied by co-administration of antipyretic and analgesic agent with 
paracetamol being the most common. Therefore, the study investigated the biological implications of co-administration of MD 
with paracetamol (PA) in in-vivo anti-plasmodial model in mice. The anti-plasmodial activity of MD (1mL/kg bw), chloroquine 
phosphate (Cq) (10mg/kg bw) alone and co-administration with PA (15mg/kg bw) (PMD and PCq) were evaluated by oral 
administration using established malaria infection test (Rane’s test). Chloroquine phosphate and distilled water were used as
positive and negative controls respectively. Haematological analysis and histopathological evaluation of the liver and kidney 
were done using standard procedures. Reduction in parasitaemia at day 4 of treatment with MD, PMD, Cq, PCq were 34.80%, 
42.36%, 86.84% and 77.25% respectively. PA significantly reduce anti-plasmodial effect of Cq (p=0.0239), while the enhanced 
activity on MD was not significant (p=0.3090). Significant reduction (p=0.0027) in PCV and Hb in MD, PA and untreated 
parasitized group were observed. Hepatotoxicity were observed in parasitized treated and non-treated groups with more effect 
by co-administration with PA. Different levels of renal tubular epithelial necrosis were observed in the parasitized untreated and 
Cq groups. The results confirmed anti-plasmodial activity of MD, which though non-significantly reduced by its coadministration with paracetamol has hepatotoxic potential.