Phytochemical Constituents, Antimalarial Efficacy, and Protective Effect of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Aqueous Leaf Extract in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

This study examined the bioactive components of Eucalyptus camaldulensis aqueous leaf extracts and their protective effects on liver and renal function in a Plasmodium berghei-induced albino mouse model of malarial infection. The results showed that E. camaldulensis extracts are rich in phytochemicals, including flavonoids, phenols, saponin, terpenes, and tannin. Four days after infection with malaria, elevated parasitemia levels in untreated control mice dropped by 4.57%. Administration of E. camaldulensis extracts at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg significantly decreased parasitemia levels by 17.39, 61.88, and 60.53%, respectively (all P<0.05), relative to untreated control mice; however, standard antimalarial drugs were more efficacious and reduced parasitemia by 86.73%. Treatment with both E. camaldulensis extracts (100∼300 mg/kg) and standard antimalarial drugs significantly decreased malarial-induced physiological imbalances in liver and renal biomarkers, and serum electrolytes in malaria-infected mice compared with controls (P<0.05). The therapeutic effect of E. camaldulensis was greatest at a dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg. These findings indicate that E. camaldulensis aqueous leaf extracts could protect against malarial-induced aberrations in liver and renal function whilst exhibiting anti-malarial effects, and could explain its use as an antimalarial remedy in traditional medicine.