Antiplasmodial and Toxicological Effects of Carica papaya and Allium sativum on Albino Rats Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Malaria is still one of the greatest global public health problems especially in sub Saharan Africa. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-plasmodial and toxicological effects of the ethanolic extracts of Carica papaya and Allium sativum using an in vivo animal model. Malaria infection in rat was initiated by intraperitoneal (IP) inoculation of 0.5 ml blood, diluted to contain 2 x 107/ml parasitized red blood cells from a donor mouse infected with P. berghei for four days. Three control groups were created viz: non-inoculated, inoculated but untreated and standard control (inoculated and treated with 10mg/kg Combisunate). Experimental groups consists of two categories with five sub-groups were created with each category representing the ethanolic extracts of Carica papaya and Allium sativum respectively. The five sub-groups in each category represent the five concentrations of 100, 300, 500, 800 and 1000mg/kg administered for five days of treatment. The average suppressive effects were obtained. Result showed that the parasitemia level for the treated groups decreased progressively for the five days period. The result of the biochemical markers showed that the plant extracts posed no toxicity effects. Hence, the ethanolic extracts of Carica papaya leaves and Allium sativum bulbs showed moderate anti-plasmodial properties and are less toxic to the body.