ANTIPLASMODIAL POTENTIALS OF BRYOPHYLLUM PINNATUM AGAINST PLASMODIUM BERGHEI IN MICE

Malaria continues to pose a serious public health problem in tropical regions, and the growing resistance of Plasmodium species to available drugs has encouraged the search for new treatments from medicinal plants. This study evaluated the antiplasmodial potential of the ethanolic leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum using both curative and repository studies in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. The extract was administered at different concentrations alongside positive and negative controls. Parasitemia levels and body weight of the mice were observed to determine the efficacy and safety of the extract. The results showed that Bryophyllum pinnatum exhibited significant antiplasmodial activity in both models. Treated groups showed lower parasite levels compared to the negative control, and the effect increased with concentration, indicating a dose-dependent response. The extract also improved body weight in infected mice, suggesting that it was well tolerated and non-toxic. These findings support the traditional use of Bryophyllum pinnatum in managing malaria and point to the plant’s potential as a natural source of antimalarial compounds. Its effectiveness may be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins, which are known for their biological activities. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterize the active compounds, understand their mechanism of action, and evaluate the plant’s safety in higher animal models. Keywords: Bryophyllum pinnatum, antiplasmodial, Plasmodium berghei, Word count: 214