Further antiplasmodial effects of the aqueous extract of cymbopogon citratus stapf (lemon grass) against plasmodium berghei in Swiss albino mice

Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf) is a popular alternative to western medicines for a number of conditions, including fevers, muscle soreness and superficial infections in Nigeria. In addition to its already reported suppressive effects against P. berghei infection, this study sought to determine its repository and blood schizonticidal activities in established P. berghei infection using Swiss albino mice as models. Mice weighing on average, between 15 and 25g were given 103mg/kg, 155mg/kg and 310mg/kg/day of the crude aqueous extract of cymbopogon citratus stapf, in the 4-day test, 24-hour Rane test and 72-hour Rane test. The effects of these doses of the extract were then compared with chloroquine(5mg/kg/day) and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (3mg/kg/day). We report an average percentage suppressive repository activity of 65.8% for the extract at a dose of 310mg/kg and a blood schizonticidal activity that increased from 68.33% in the 24-hour Rane test to 92% in the 72-hour Rane test for the same dose of extract. The crude aqueous extract of C. citratus stapf thus has significant repository and blood schizonticidal activities against established P. berghei infection in Swiss albino mice compare to that of pyrimethamine and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine respectively.