Anti-plasmodial, Anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and safety profile of Maytenus senegalensis root bark extract on hepato-renal integrity in experimental animals

Maytenus senegalensis is a plant with several medicinal claims in folk medicine. Methanol root extract of the plant was evaluated for antiplasmodial, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, and safety profile. Antiplasmodial, anti-inflammatory (egg albumin induced paw edema), and analgesic (hot plate test) experiments were set up, each consisting of four (4) groups (A-D) of five mice each. Groups A–C of each experiment were treated with 2.0 ml/kg bw normal saline, 400 and 800 mg/kg bw of the extract according to the procedures. Chloroquine, acetyl salicylic, and aspirin respectively were used as the reference drugs. Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated after 4-week administration of the extract to four groups of five rats each at oral daily doses of 0, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg bw, respectively. At 400 and 800 mg/kg bw, the extract caused 58.88% and 58.49% inhibition of parasitemia, and 51.92% and 54.66% inhibition of paw edema, respectively. The reaction time to the thermal stimuli increased (p < 0.05) with increased extract concentrations. All the doses of the extract significantly (p < 0.05) increased the concentration urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and white blood cell (WBC) count, while aspartate transaminases (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), sodium, potassium, chloride, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), and hemoglobin (HGB) compared well (p > 0.05) with their reference values. The extract alters some functional integrity of kidney, and thus caution should be exercised when using the extract for the above pharmacological activities or other oral remedy.