Caleb I Nyamwange, Hezron S Nyandieka.
The effect of purified neem oil on the growth rate of the Plasmodium Berghei in mice.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;45(2):49-52.

Background: Traditionally neem extract is used in the treatment and prevention of malaria in Africa and Asia but its effect on the growth of malaria parasites has not been fully studied. Aims: To investigate the effect of neem oil extract on the growth of rodent malaria parasite. Methods: Purified neem oil was diluted to 10% (v/v) with phosphate buffered saline and administered orally to mice in volumes of 25ul, 50ul, 100ul, and 150?l by a feeding needle. Plasmodium berghei culture was maintained in the outbred original mice . The parasites were introduced into the host mice to develop and then extracted and transferred into another host after every five days. The development of plasmodium parasites were determined by microscopic examination of blood smears and cell counts. 50?l of blood were collected into heparinized tubes from the mice which had parasitemias of about 35% and diluted to 5ml (1:100) with phosphate buffered saline with a pH of 7.4. 100ml of the diluted parasitized blood were administered to each mouse by intraperitoneal injection. Mice were divided into two groups for the purpose of determining the potency of neem oil as a therapeutic agent and its protective action against malaria parasite. Group 1 was used to investigate the potency of the inhibitory action of purified neem oil on the growth of Plasmodium berghei in the mice. All animals were infected with parasitemia 24hr before treatment with neem oil was started. Each animal received a single intraperitoneal injection of 100?l of parasitized blood and allowed to live in the same environment for 24hr. They were then divided into five batches and treated with appropriate amounts of neem oil per batch per animal The control batch was treated with water only. The development of parasitemia was recorded every 24hr. Group 2 was used to investigate the protective role of neem oil against invading malaria parasites. All animals were sub-divided into five batches and treated with an appropriate dose of neem oil by gastric intubation. After 24hr, each animal received a single intraperitoneal injection of 100?l of parasitized blood. The batch group was treated with the parasitized blood and water only. Results: Purified neem oil extract showed a very strong inhibitory effect on the growth of rodent malaria parasite.. This effect was confirmed by a gradual decline in the parasitemia in mice following administration of neem oil. Conclusion: Neem extract has a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of malarial parasite and thus can be used in the prevention and treatment of malaria.

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