Telfairia occidentalis Seed Extracts Attenuated Oxidative Stress And Liver Injury In Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

Abstract

TelfairiaoccidentalisHooke. F. (Cucurbitaceae) is a vegetable used medicinally in the treatment of malaria. The seed crude and gradient extracts of T. occidentalis(138 -553 mg/kg) obtained by cold extraction were investigated for antioxidative stress, haematological and hepatoprotective effects in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice using standard curative test. Hematological parameters, oxidative stress markers levels, liver function indices were determined and histopathology of livers of the treated infected mice. Characterisation of the active extract was done using GCMS. The crude and gradient extracts (138-553 mg/kg, p.o.) exerted significant (p<0.05–0.001) antimalarial activity against P. berghei infection with methanol gradient extract having the highest activity. Hematological parameters of the infected treated mice were altered. The extracts treatment significantly (p<0.05) lowered liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP), total and conjugated bilirubin and also decreased significantly (p<0.05) total protein and albumin levels of the treated mice relative to control. The seed extracts further improved (p<0.05) the levels of antioxidant enzymes and molecules (CAT, GPx, GST,SOD) of the treated infected mice. The MDA levels of the treated infected mice were reduced (p<0.05) relative to control. Histology of liver sections revealed absence or reductions in pathological features in infected mice treated with crude extract (276 mg/kg), DCM and ethyl acetate gradient extracts compared to untreated infected mice. GCMS analysis of the active gradient extract revealed the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids and monoterpenes in the active methanol extract. These results suggest that the seed extract possess antimalarial, antioxidative stress and hepatoprotective activities due to it phytochemical constituents