Anti-malarial activity of Eclipta alba against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice

The anti-malarial activity of Eclipta alba leaves extract was evaluated against Plasmodium'berghei ANKA strain in mice. A standard inoculum of 1 x 10(6) infected erythrocytes was used. The methanolic leaf extract (250-750 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependant chemosupression or schizontocidal effect during early and established infection and high mean survival time (m.s.t.) values particularly in the group administered 750 mg/kg/day of extract. The plant extract also exhibited repository activity. The results of the preliminary studies carried out with E. alba are encouraging, which can be exploited in malaria therapy.