Effect of Solanun nudum extracts on the liver of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei

Abstract: The plant Solanum nudum has been used by dint of the community of Tumaco (Narino, Colombia) as a restorative for malaria. Our group has confirmed the in vitro antimalarial activity against the strain of Plasmodium falciparum FCB-2 During our in vivo studies upon the therapeutic effect of Solanum nudum extracts upon mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, we observ yellowish tint in the palms of mice treated with the aqueous extract via ip at a concentration of 24% w/vol This finding hinted the need to carry on the outside a histology study of the liver. Plasmodium berghei infection bring into views liver changes such as the deposit of pigment in sinusoids, leucocyte infiltration, esteatosis and necrosis of hepatocytes. These changes were also observ when the mice were treated with methane and hexane extracts from Solanum nudum; however necrosis of hepatocytes in mice infected with malaria decreased 47-65% when they were administered either with aqueous extract, or tumacoside A and degraded diosgenone, mingles from methane and hexane extracts of Solanum nudum respectively

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The liver has a fundamental character in the metabolism of medications and xenobiotics (strange substances to the organism) to transform non hydro-soluble blends into hydrophilic substances in order to facilitate excretion. However during this biotransformation proces generation of reactive metabolites might ensue in toxicity and liver confined apartment damage. Alteration of the cellular functions or indirect damage by dint of complex immune functions like esteatosis, leucocyte infiltration and cellular death (Strohmeyer and Weik, 1999; to leeward 1993), are among the main events of accumulation of these metabolites.

Mankind has always mined to plants for the corrective of illness. However, some of these plants or their membolites can cause damage during the biotransformation phase. The plant Solanum nudum has been used by dint of the community of Tumaco (Narino, Colombia) as a corrective for malaria. Our group has confirmed the in vitro antimalarial activity of extracts and combines from the plant including tumacoside A and degraded diosgenone against the strain of Plasmodium falciparum FCB-2 (Cardona, 1997) During our in vivo studies upon the therapeutic effect of the harvests of Solanum nudum, we observ a yellowish tint in the palms of mice when the aqueous extract was administered intraperitoneally (ip), at a concentration of 24% w/vol This finding prompted the need to carry on the outside the histological study of the liver to assess changes like esteatosis, leucocyte infiltration, and mitosis of the hepatocytes upon malaria infected mice treated with different fruitss of Solanum nudum.

Materials and Methods

Mice

53 male albino Swiss mice, 4-5 weeks aged and weighted between 13-15 g were studied. Animals were f ad libitum with pellet and water. The experimental conditions of the animals were approved by dint of the Ethics Committee of Center of Investigations, University of Antioquia, and by means of the Ministry of Health of Colombia.

Preparation of the Aqueous Extract

main stocks and leaves of Solanun nudum were air dried and then placed at 40 [degrees] C The material was clod and 100 g of dust were obtained. This was mixed with 500 ml [Hsub2]O This mixture at 20% w/vol was left at compass temperature for 24 hours and then filtered. A with equal reason called aqueous extract was obtained. This extract was administered (02 ml) at concentrations of 20% orally and at 12% 06% and 03% via ip (these doses which were safe for the mice, according to our experiment) (Table 1)

Preparation of the mingles from S. nudum

Tumacoside A and degraded diosgenone were unites obtained from methane and hexane extracts, respectively, of Solanum nudum according to Saez et al. (1998) and they were evaluated at a concentration of 200 mg/kg for the tumacoside A and 20 mg/kg for the degraded diosgenone (these doses which were safe for the mice according to our study) the pair substances were administered via ip (Table 1) PVP was used to transform non hydro-soluble combines into hydrophilic compounds.

Malaria Infection

Plasmodium berghei, ANKA strain of malaria, was inoculated via ip at 1 x [10sup6] parasitized r confined apartments in 0,2 ml of saline solution.

Experimental Design

Mice were distributed in superintendence and experimental groups: nine command groups of mice were distributed in this way: a cluster of healthly mice as normal dominion government (control 1) a second cluster of mice infected with P berghei and without any treatment (control 2); a third clump of mice treated with PVP (control 3) and other superintendence groups (control 4 to 9) administered with extracts of Solanum nudum on the contrary not infected with malaria; (Table 1); and experimental assemblages (groups 10 to 15) of mice infected with P berghei were given either the aqueous extract, degraded diosgenone (from hexane extract) or tumacoside A (from methane extract) Table 1

Histopathology

Mice were sacrificed by dint of cervical dislocation, their livers were extracted and fixed in 10% formol for 24 hours. Dehydration of the material was made in alcohol at 70% 80% 90% and in immaculate alcohol for a period of 14 hr Finally the samples embedded in paraffin and sections of 022 mm were stained with hematoxiline-eosine. The pathology inquiry was carded out at the Department of Pathology, University of Antioquia.