Abstract:
Haematostaphis barteri, known as blood plum found in Upper West region of Ghana. It is used locally for treating
malaria, hepatitis, and swollen body parts. The curative property of dicloromethane:methanol (D/M) and aqueous (AQ) extracts
were investigated by inoculating mice with 1x106P. berghei. On the fourth day, the mice were treated orally with AQ (30-300
mg/kg), D/M (30-300 mg/kg), saline and Artemether-Lumifantrine (1.14:6.9 mg/kg) for 5 days. In the prophylactic assay, AQ,
D/M and 1.2 mg/kg sulfadoxine/pyremethamine (SP) were orally administered to the mice for three consecutive days before
inoculating them with P. berghei. Parasite density was measured after 72 h. The anti-inflammatory activity of AQ was
determined by inducing inflammation in hind paws of rats by intra plantar injection of 100 µl of 1% of carrageenan, histamine
and serotonin before oral treatments with AQ (30-300 mg/kg), saline and 10 mg/kg diclofenac. The effects of the treatments on
inflammation were measured with digital calipers. Pyrexia was also induced in rats with 0.135 g/kg, i.p. yeast. The rats were
treated orally with AQ and 25 mg/kg paracetamol 18 h later. Rectal temperature was taken for three hours. AQ and D/M
produced significant (P<0.05) curative antimalarial activity. In the prophylactic test however, only AQ significantly reduced the
parasite density. AQ significantly (p<0.05) inhibited carrageenan, histamine and serotonin-induced inflammation as well as
pyrexia induced with yeast. H.barteri possesses antimalarial, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. The anti-
inflammatory properties involved the inhibition of inflammatory the mediators: histamine and serotonin.
