Antiplasmodial and Phytochemical Investigations of Leaf Extract of Anthocleista vogelii (Planch)

Anthocleista vogelii Planch ( Loganiaceae ) is a medicinal plant used widely in Nigeria for management of malaria and other ailments. The aim of this present study was to investigate the anti-plasmodial activities of the l eaf extract against residual infection in chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Phytochemical analysis and oral acute toxicity in mice were evaluated. Iron ch elating ability of the extract and isolated compound were also determined. The extract was found be safe at up to 2000 mg/kg dose. The extract produced a dose dependent reduction in parasite density compared to the control group when given intraperit oneally. There was no reduction when the extract was administered orally. The phyto chemical investigations of extract resulted in isolation of four compounds whose struc tures were elucidated using IR, GC-MS, LC-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy as decussatin (1-hydroxy-3,7,8- trimethoxyxanthone), stigmasterol (stigmasta-5,22-d ien-3-beta-ol), swertiaperennin (1,8-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-xanthone), and hexadecanoic acid. Decussatin demonstrated very weak reduction in parasite densit y at 10mg/kg. The extract and decussatin demonstrated good iron chelating ability at the tested concentration (1mg/ml) which may be involved in its antiplasmodial activities.