Antimalarial Efficacy and Chemopreventive Capacity of Bamboo Leaf (Bambusa vulgaris) in Malaria Parasitized Mice

The exploration of natural products for the treatment of malarial has been the main focus of scientists in the past decades. In this research, the phytochemical constituents, antimalarial effect, and chemopreventive capacity of aqueous leaf extract of Bambusa vulgaris in malaria parasitized mice was investigated. A total of 30 male mice, grouped into six (n=5), was used. The results obtained showed that B. vulgaris is rich in flavonoid (262.08 μg CE/g) and phenol (0.91 g AAE/ 100 g). There was significant reduction on the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Gamma glutarmyl-transferase (GGT) upon treatment as compared with the control groups (P<0.05). Concentration of total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB) and serum electrolytes (sodium, calcium, phosphorus and chloride) decreased in treated groups; serum urea, creatinine and uric acid also reduced significantly as against the control groups (P<0.05). The hepatoprotection and renal function restoration observed upon the administration of the plant extract indicate to a far reaching end that B. vulgaris leaf extract would be a promising natural antimalarial product devoid of side effects upon use, especially when administered within the dose range of 100 – 200 mg/Kg body weight investigated in this study.Keywords: Bambusa vulgaris, phytochemicals, antimalarial, chemoprevention