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Global Research Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.2(1) pp.013 – 017 March 2012
Available online http://www.globalresearchjournals.org/journal/?id=GRJMS
Copyright ©2012 Global Research Journals
Full Length Research.
The Effect of Azadirachta indica (Neem Tree) On Human Plasmodiasis: The Laboratory Perspective.
PELETIRI*, I.C.1; MATUR, B.M.2; IHONGBE, J.C.1; and OKOYE, M.3
1.Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Abuja, Nigeria
3. Winners Medical Diagnostic & Research Institute, Abuja, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author’s e-mail: kumochris@hotmail.com
Accepted 5th February 2012.
Abstract
Herbal remedies are still sought by a cross section of Nigerians in both rural and urban areas for various ailments. Crude extracts of Azadirachta indica leaves (both aqueous and methanolic) were prepared using the methodology of Obi and Makinde. Doubling dilutions were made from the stock solution to give serial dilutions of 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, and 1:64. Aliquots of 25 µl of each dilution (concentration) were dispensed into wells of 96 sterile microtitre plates, one concentration per row of 12 wells. The activity of both the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Azadirachta indica was investigated against 18 isolates. The calculation for the IC50 was not feasible owing to the fact that the stock (undiluted) concentration only had a 34.4% inhibition of schizont maturation for the aqueous while the methanolic extract on the other hand had a 43.4% inhibition of schizont maturation. The results however indicate that Azadirachta indica leaves may have the active ingredient against Plasmodium falciparuim. This could be extracted, studied and formulated into doseable anti-malarial drugs.
Keywords: Azadirachta indica, Herbal remedies, Plasmodiasis.