Malaria Control & Elimination

Effect of Aqueous Crude Extract of Tinospora Crispa on Plasmodium Berghei Induced Liver Damage in Mice

Abstract

Voravuth Somsak, Jutatip Kittitorn, Sukanya Chachiyo, Somdet Srichairatanakool, and Chairat Uthaipibull

Malaria is still a serious problem with increasing of mortality in children annually. One of major causes of death in malaria, organ damage especially liver, has been observed. Hence, we aimed to investigate hepatoprotective effect of traditional plant, Tinospora crispa during malaria infection using Plasmodium berghei infected mice as in vivo model. Aqueous crude extract of T. crispa was freshly prepared. For in vivo test, groups of ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 6×106 parasitized erythrocytes of P. berghei ANKA, and given with the extract at doses 10, 50, and 500 mg/kg twice a day for 4-consecutive days. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase are measured for liver damage while albumin measurement is for liver function. The results showed that liver damage was observed during malaria infection as indicating by significantly (p<0.05) increase of AST and ALT, and markedly decrease of albumin. Interestingly, T. crispa extract exerted hepatoprotective effect during malaria infection. The highest hepatoprotective activity of the extract was shown at dose of 500 mg/kg. Additionally, there were no any toxics to liver function in normal mice treated with this extract. It can be concluded that aqueous crude extract of T. crispa exerts hepatoprotective effect during P. berghei infection.