PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION AND ANTI-PLASMODIAL STUDIES ON METHANOL EXTRACT OF THE AERIAL PARTS OF SCADOXUS MULTIFLORUS (MARTYN) RAF. (AMARYLLIDACEAE)

Scadoxus multiflorus, a fleshy herbaceous plant with a large bulb, is traditionally used in ethno-medicine for to manage malaria and treat ulcers and as a cardiotonic stimulant. This study aimed to conduct a phytochemical screening and evaluate the antiplasmodial activity of its aerial parts. The plant material was extracted with methanol using a maceration process, and the crude extract was partitioned into hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, phenols, and cardiac glycosides in the crude extract and fractions. Quantitative analysis revealed that phenolic compounds were the most abundant in the crude extract (198.32 mg/g), while alkaloids were the least abundant (51.14 mg/g). The n-hexane fraction, however, had the highest tannin content (215 mg/g). Acute toxicity testing, following the OECD's 2008 guidelines, showed that the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) was greater than 5000 mg/kg, indicating the extract's safety. Its antiplasmodial activity was evaluated using both suppressive and curative models in Plasmodium berghei-infected albino mice. The extract at 1000 mg/kg significantly suppressed parasitemia by 58.8% in early infection (in the suppressive test) and reduced parasitemia by 61.8% in established infection (in the curative test). Chloroquine, the standard drug, at 5 mg/kg produced higher parasite suppression (84.52%) and curative effects (84.50%) compared to those of the extract. These results suggest that methanol extract of the aerial parts of Scadoxus multiflorus possesses antiplasmodial activity, supporting its traditional use in malaria management.