Abstract:
The proximate analysis of the Mucuna pruriens leaves according to AOAC (1990) shows appreciable amount of nutrients with highest carbohydrate content (45.65%) and crude fat having the lowest value (2.97%). There were presence of phytochemical compounds in the leaves ethanol extract following the method of Trease and Evans (1983). The antiplasmodial potential of the ethanol leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens was evaluated
against Plasmodium falciparum in mice, after intraperitoneally malaria-induced mice, using parasitized O+ human blood. Parasitamia was confirmed 72 hours after induction, by viewing a thick and thin field stained (A and B) smear of the parasitized blood under low power microscope (x10) field. The level of parasitamia per field was recorded during the period of experimentation. The amount of food intake was also determined. The
standard control group was treated with artesunate. High deposits of parasitaemia were observed on the first day of treatment, but this reduced significantly on the third day. Experimental animals treated with lowest dose of extract (40mgkg) reduced parasitaemia level from 23 on the day 1 to 12 on the day 3, while the group treated with highest dose of extract (120mg/kg) reduced parasitaemia level from 12 parasites per field to 8 parasites
per field by the third day. These results imply that Mucuna pruriens has antiplamodial potential which might be attributed to the phytochemical and secondary metabolites contents of the plant and, its also does dependent. The appetite level of the experimental animals also increased, as the parasitaemia level decreased.
