Malaria Control & Elimination

Antimalarial and Anti-hypoglycemic Properties of Siamese Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica) in Plasmodium berghei Infected Mice

Abstract

Voravuth Somsak, Sukanya Chachiyo, Jutatip Kittitorn, Suthin Audomkasok and Sairung Sriwiphat

The present study has been carried out to investigate antimalarial and anti-hypoglycemic activities of leaf aqueous crude extract of Siamese neem tree (Azadirachta indica) against Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Groups of ICR mice were treated orally with Siamese neem tree extract (500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) after infection with P. berghei ANKA. Parasitemia and blood glucose levels were determined. At these doses, Siamese neem tree extract inhibited parasitemia in dose-dependent manner with significance (P < 0.05). In addition, anti-hypoglycemic activity has been observed in infected mice treated with Siamese neem tree extracts. In particularly, the highest activities of Siamese neem tree extract were found at dose 2000 mg/kg. These results indicated that leaf aqueous crude extract of Siamese neem tree have antimalarial and anti-hypoglycemic activities against P. berghei ANKA infected mice.