The antimalarial activity of two Cryptolepis sanguinolenta based herbal decoctions namely Cryptoquine and Nibima, were studied using Plasmodium berghei (ANKA) in mice. The herbal preparations were evaluated for chemosuppressive activity during an early infection with P. berghei in mice and also for possible repository activity to ascertain whether they could be useful as prophylaxis. Each mouse used in the study was infected with a standard inoculum of 1 x 106 parasitised RBCs intraperitoneally. P. berghei infected mice which were treated with Cryptolepis sanguinolenta based herbal preparations showed chemosuppression in both decoctions for the 4-day suppressive test. Also, results of the repository activity of the herbal preparations showed that both decoctions have promising activity judging by their ability to reduce parasitemia in mice. Generally, the results of the mean survival time of mice treated with the decoctions under the 4-day tests compares well with those treated with chloroquine. The results indicate that both Cryptolepis sanguinolenta based decoctions used in this study have schizontocidal and repository activity against Plasmodium berghei in mice and may be useful in the prevention and treatment of malaria.
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