• Chukwuemeka Sylvester Nworu, Tochukwu Ifenyinwa Ejikeme, Adaobi Chioma Ezike, Okechukwu Ndu, Theophine Chinwuba Akunne, Collins Azubuike Onyeto, Paul Okpalanduka, and Peter Achunike Akah.
• Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
• Afr Health Sci. 2017 Sep 1; 17 (3): 827843827-843.

BackgroundOldenlandia affinis, commonly called 'kalata-kalata', a versatile plant used locally to treat malaria fever in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa was investigated for anti-plasmodial and anti-inflammatory activities.ObjectiveThe study was designed to evaluate the antiplasmodial as well as anti-inflammatory activities of whole extract and cyclotide-rich fraction of Oldenlandia affinis.MethodThe dichloromethane-methanol extract (ODE) of the plant, O. affinis was investigated for suppressive and curative antiplasmodial activities against Plasmodium berghei in mice. ODE and the cyclotide-rich fraction (CRF) was investigated for chronic and acute anti-inflammatory activities in rat models of inflammation. Inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators was studied in RAW264.7 macrophages.ResultsODE exhibited significant (p<0.05) reduction in mean parasitaemia in both the suppressive and curative models of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice.Administration of ODE(100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) and CRF (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) produced significant inhibition of rodent models of acute and chronic inflammation . This observation is supported by the significant (P<0.05) inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators, inducible nitric oxide (iNO) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and the reactive radical scavenging activities in RAW264.7 macrophages.ConclusionThese findings could explain, at least in part, the successes reported in the use of the herb, Oldenlandia affinis in the traditional treatment of malaria fever.

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