Antimalarial activities of Alchornea laxiflora stembark extract and fractions in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice

Alchornea laxiflora [Benth.] Pax and K.Hoffm(Euphorbiaceae) is used in Ibibio ethnomedicine for the treatment of various diseases such as malaria. The stembark extract and fractions of Alchornea laxiflora (141 - 424 mg/kg) were investigated for  antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice using standard experimental models; suppressive, prophylactic and curative tests. Acute toxicity study of the extract and phytochemical analysis were carried out.  The stembark extract (141 - 424 mg/kg, p.o.) with LD50 of 1414.21mg/kg exerted significant (p<0.05–0.001) antimalarial activity against P. berghei infection in suppressive, prophylactive and curative tests with methanol and dichloromethane  fractions having the highest activity. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of active compounds. These results suggest that the stembark extract/fractions of Alchornea laxiflora possess antimalarial activities which justify its use in ethnomedicine to treat malaria.