DOI: njcpt.com.ng/101.1.2.24
Corresponding Author: OGECHUKWU L. NWANKWO
Department of Pharmacognosy and Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria.
E-mail: ol.nwankwo@unizik.edu.ng
Abstract
Background: Endophytes can synthesis bioactive compounds responsible for plants' defence against pathogens,
thus evaluating Azadirachta indica antimalarial potential.
Objectives: The study aimed to standardise and evaluate the antimalarial properties of the methanolic, and
endophytic fungi extract of Azadirachta indica using Plasmodium berghei, rice media and mice (laboratory
animal).
Methods: The study followed standard methods in the extraction, phytochemical and physicochemical evaluation
of the powdered leaves of A. indica. The study isolated endophytic fungi using malt extract agar. Fungal
fermentation was done (21 days), and ethyl acetate was extracted. Acute toxicity tests were performed on the
crude and endophytic fungal extracts. The antimalarial curative study was done for both extracts, with artemetherlumefantrine as a positive control to evaluate the percentage curative effect (PCE). HPLC analysis was based on
the retention time and UV absorption spectra.
Results: Phytochemical and physicochemical analyses showed the existence of alkaloids, saponins, and tannins
and low moisture content. Seven endophytic fungi were isolated. Fungal fermentation yielded an appreciable
amount of endophytic fungi. The oral acute toxicity study of the crude extract in mice revealed lethality reaction
at a 4472.14 mg/kg dose, while the seven endophytic fungi extracts were above 5000 mg/kg. The crude extract
had its highest PCE (83.3 0%) at 125 mg/kg. AMRc and AMRy endophytic extracts gave the highest PCE at 125
mg/kg (95 and 95.72 %). Artemeter-lumefantrine showed PCE of 98.62 % at 0.9 mg/kg. HPLC analysis of the
endophytic extracts identified methyl– 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) acetate, neurolenin B, aniquinazoline, palitantin,
genistein, procyanidin, and pipernonaline.
Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated the antimalarial potentials of the endophytes of A. indica,
which may be exploited further.
Keywords: Endophyte, microscopy, artemether-lumefantrine, percentage curative effect.
Keywords: Knowledge, COVID-19, Nigeria, Vaccine, Myths.