Anti-plasmodial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of crude and alkaloidal fraction of Terminalia glaucescens stem bark

Terminalia glaucescens (T. glaucescens) stem bark is used in ethno-medicine for the management of malaria and other diseases in Northern Nigeria. In this study, antiplasmodial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of crude and alkaloidal extracts of T. glaucescens stem bark were evaluated against Plasmodium berghei in mice. Six (6) groups of 3 mice each were inoculated with Plasmodium berghei infected blood. Groups I to V were treated orally with 250 and 500 mg/kg bw crude methanol extract of T. glaucescens stem bark, 100 mg/kgbw of alkaloidal fraction, 100 mg/kg body weight Artemisia herbal and 5 mg/kg bw chloroquine, once daily for five days.  Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the crude extract were evaluated at doses of 400 and 800 mg/kg bw. Results shows that chloroquine reduced the parasitaemia level the most (89.20 %) this was followed by Artemisia herbal standard (72.80 %) and alkaloidal extract recorded 72.07 % parasitaemia reduction. The extract caused an increase in packed cell volume and body weight of the animal. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of crude extract of T. glaucescens stem bark (800 mg/kg body weight) were 56.86 and 78.79 % respectively compared to the acetyl salicylic acid standard drug (75.68 and 95.96 %) respectively. From the study Terminalia glaucescens stem bark extract was found to possess antimalarial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, which however was lower than that of the standards used. This however, provides a scientific basis to the folkloric claim of the plant in the management of pain and similar ailments.