Startseite Medizin Alstonia boonei stem bark aqueous extract ameliorates elevated parasitemia levels, normalises blood glucose, modulates inflammatory biomarkers and enhances antioxidant status in Plasmodium berghei-infected/diabetic mice
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Alstonia boonei stem bark aqueous extract ameliorates elevated parasitemia levels, normalises blood glucose, modulates inflammatory biomarkers and enhances antioxidant status in Plasmodium berghei-infected/diabetic mice

  • Odunayo Michael Agunloye ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Opeyemi Francis Akintoye und Ganiyu Oboh
Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 29. September 2025

Abstract

Objectives

Malaria and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often coexist in sub-Saharan Africa, worsening disease burden and complicating treatment. This study evaluated the protective effects of Alstonia boonei stem bark aqueous extract on Plasmodium berghei-infected diabetic mice.

Methods

Male mice were divided into five groups: normal control, untreated infected/diabetic, chloroquine–metformin treated, and extract-treated groups (40 and 80 mg/kg body weight). Fasting blood glucose, parasitemia, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory markers, and hematological indices were assessed following treatment.

Results

Untreated infected/diabetic mice exhibited significant hyperglycemia, elevated parasitemia, oxidative stress, anemia, and dysregulated inflammatory responses compared with controls. Administration of A. boonei extract produced a dose-dependent reduction in fasting blood glucose and parasitemia, alongside inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The extract enhanced antioxidant status (SOD, catalase, GSH), restored red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume, reduced C-reactive protein levels, and elevated interleukin-10. These effects were more pronounced at 80 mg/kg and comparable to the standard drug group.

Conclusions

A. boonei stem bark aqueous extract demonstrated antihyperglycemic, antiplasmodial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects in malaria–diabetes comorbidity. The findings support its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for managing malaria and diabetes co-occurrence.


Corresponding author: Odunayo Michael Agunloye, Department of Biochemistry, Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, E-mail:

  1. Research ethics: The University and Institutional protocol for experimental animals’ welfare and rights were strictly animal with protocol number: FUTA/23/012.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: OMA: Conceptualised, Carry out bioassays, data analysis, proof read and supervised the research. OFA: Carried out bioassay, draft of the manuscript. GO: provide logistic, Final proof reading.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: None declared.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2025-07-17
Accepted: 2025-09-05
Published Online: 2025-09-29

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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