Abstract

Objective: Antiplasmodial activities of Rauwolfia serpentina and its impact on the haematological and organ function indices in mice were evaluated in this study. Methods: The dried powdered leaf was exhaustively extracted with hot water and ethanol successively and extracts were screened for phytochemicals. Prophylactic and curative antimalarial test were carried out using Plasmodium berghei NK65 infected mice, to which the extract was administered at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (BW). Toxicity of the extract was evaluated in rats using selected hematological parameters and organ function indices after prophylactic and curative test. Results: In 5 days curative tests, hot water and ethanol extract suppressed parasitaemia by 82.53 and 88.12% at 400 mg/kg dose level, respectively however in prophylactic test, water extract has chemo-suppression of 97.72% while ethanol extract had 99.83%. All parasitaemia suppressions were statistically significant at P < 0.05 and are dose dependent. All hematological parameters evaluated were not significantly altered (P>0.05) at all doses of the extract, except packed cell volume which was significantly higher (P<0.05) at 200 mg/kg BW. The extract significantly increased (P<0.05) bicarbonate, urea, creatinine, uric acid and calcium in the serum at higher doses compared to the controls. Alkaloid, anthraquinone, cardenoloides, glycosides, phenol, phlobatanin, resin and saponin were present in the extract. Conclusions: The results support the traditional use of the herbal combination in the treatment of malaria.