Gymnema inodorum Leaf Extract Improves Cardiac Function in Experimental Mice Infected with Plasmodium Berghei

Malaria-associated cardiac injury has been reported to be the primary cause of death due to severe malaria. The discovery of substances showing a protective effect on cardiac injury during malaria infection is urgently needed. Hence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Gymnema inodorum leaf extract (GIE) on cardiac function in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. ICR mice were treated with 1 x 10(7) infected red blood cells of P. berghei ANKA (PbANKA), administered orally with GIE in 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight of mice. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and echocardiography were carried out. It was found that CPK and heart-weight to body-weight (HW/BW) ratios were significantly higher in untreated mice than the healthy control. Moreover, impaired cardiac function in the untreated group was observed as indicated by changes in echocardiography. Interestingly, GIE exerted a protective effect on cardiac injury induced by PbANKA infection. Our results demonstrated that the parasitemia percentage, CPK, HW/BW ratio, and echocardiography in GIE treated mice were improved. However, there was no significant difference between GIE dosages. Therefore, GIE possessed a cardio-protective effect during malaria infection in mice.