An insight into the antimalarial and antioxidant properties and pharmacognostic standards of the leaves of Bambusa vulgaris (Schrad). ex J.C.Wendl.

Introduction: Malaria remains a significant public health concern in Ghana, underscoring the need to explore the antimalarial efficacy of medicinal plants, such as Bambusa vulgaris (bamboo), traditionally used for its management. This study investigates the in vivo antimalarial efficacy of aqueous (BVA) and hydroethanolic (BVE) leaf extracts of B. vulgaris against Plasmodium berghei-infected mice, alongside their antioxidant activity and pharmacognostic standards.

Method: Acute toxicity was assessed following OECD guidelines. Antimalarial activity was evaluated using Peter’s four-day suppressive and Rane’s curative tests. Antioxidant properties were investigated using the DPPH assay. Pharmacognostic standards were established following standard procedures.

Results: The LD₅₀ of the extracts was > 2000 mg/kg. In the four-day suppressive test, BVE exhibited parasitaemia suppression and an ED₅₀ of 90.68 ± 1.53% at 400 mg/kg and 177.83 ± 16.36 mg/kg, respectively. BVA, similarly, provided a suppression and an ED₅₀ of 84.98 ± 1.62% and 281.84 ± 22.31 mg/kg. In the curative test, BVA achieved a % suppression of 63.15 ± 1.53 at 400 mg/kg and an ED₅₀ of 234.42 ± 10.28 mg/kg. Both extracts prolonged survival and increased body weight of mice, with BVA reversing hypothermia and anaemia. Antioxidant assays revealed BVE’s stronger DPPH scavenging activity, with an IC₅₀ of 851.3 µg/mL, compared to BVA, which had an IC₅₀ of 1552 µg/mL, attributed to higher flavonoid (4.71 ± 0.039 mg quercetin/g) and phenolic (58.99 ± 0.039 mg GAE/g) contents. Pharmacognostic studies established macro-morphological, microscopic, physicochemical, chromatographic, and spectroscopic standards.

Conclusion: The study validates the traditional antimalarial use of B. vulgaris leaves and provides standard benchmarks for its quality control.